Kenny tops RTÉ earnings list with €900,000

Pat Kenny's was the highest-paid RTÉ broadcaster in 2004, bringing in almost €900,000, according to figures released this afternoon.

Mr Kenny's earnings increased by more than €260,000 from 2003 to 2004 after his company - Pat Kenny Media Services Ltd - renegotiated his contract with the State broadcaster. The company was paid €899,000 in 2004.

His earnings far outstrip those of the next highest earner, reflecting his dual role as a radio and television broadcaster. Mr Kenny was the only one of the top ten earners who renegotiated his contract during the period.

RTÉ paid its top ten broadcasters almost €3.3 million in 2004.

The second-highest paid broadcaster is 2FM's Gerry Ryan whose company - Balcom Management Ltd - was paid €487,492 for his services in 2004. This was €26,000 up on the pervious year. Such increases were in line with conditions in a broadcaster's contract, a spokeswoman for RTÉ said.

Marian Finucane, who was recently ushered out of her weekday morning slot on RTÉ Radio 1 to the weekend, was the third-highest earner on €439,265 in 2004. This was an increase of almost €80,000 compared with 2003.

The value of people "talking to Joe" saw RTÉ pay Joe Duffy's firm Claddaghgreen Ltd just under €280,000 in 2004, still a significant salary, but significantly less than Ryan and Finucane.

Primetimepresenter Miriam O'Callaghan was paid more than €251,250 in 2004, an increase of more than €70,000 compared with 2003.

The bright young thing of RTÉ, Ryan Tubridy, who has since taken over from Finucane on the weekday morning slot on Radio 1 was the sixth-highest earner with earnings of €216,150 to his company Trocity Productions Ltd. Tubridy did not feature in the top ten earners in 2003.

Derek Mooney may be going wild with his earnings of €189,906 for 2004, up more than €20,000 on the previous year. He is listed as an employee, rather than as a contractor.

Music maestro John Kelly, whose Mystery Trainwill be shunted off air later this year in a re-jig of Radio 1, was paid €188,630 in 2004, and increase of more than €35,000 over 12 months.

The presenter of the News At Oneon Radio 1 and the Week in Politicson RTÉ 1 Television, Sean O'Rourke was paid more than €177,000 in 2004. He did not feature in the top ten in 2003, meaning his salary increased by at least €20,000 over that 12 month period. O'Rourke is also listed as an employee.

And the tenth highest earner among RTÉ broadcasting staff is sports presenter George Hamilton who was paid €168,322 in 2004.

Charlie Bird, Vincent Browne and Brian Farrell all featured in the list of top ten earners in 2003 but not in 2004.