Pat Kenny again RTÉ's best paid presenter

Radio and TV broadcaster took home €950,976 Pat Kenny again RTÉ's best-paid presenter, writes ALISON HEALY

Radio and TV broadcaster took home €950,976 Pat Kenny again RTÉ's best-paid presenter, writes ALISON HEALY

PAT KENNY continued to be RTÉ's highest paid presenter last year when he took home €950,976.

This was an increase of more than €28,000 on his 2007 fee and almost €100,000 more than he earned in 2006. Mr Kenny had been presenting The Late Late Showduring this period, as well as his daily morning radio show.

The figures of RTÉ's 10 most highly-paid presenters were released yesterday after a lengthy delay.

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They show that the State broadcaster gave its 10 most highly-paid presenters more than €4.4 million last year. RTÉ's top three on-air earners have remained the same since the broadcaster began releasing figures in 2002.

Many of the radio and television presenters' salaries dwarf the salaries paid to world leaders and Irish politicians.

US president Barack Obama's salary is capped at $400,000 or approximately €276,038 while Taoiseach Brian Cowen's salary is €232,572. British prime minister Gordon Brown earns €221,220.

Pat Kenny, Gerry Ryan, Marian Finucane, Ryan Tubridy, Joe Duffy, Eamon Dunphy, Miriam O'Callaghan and Derek Mooney all earned more than the capped salary for the US president.

Earnings are higher in the entertainment world, however, as BBC's Jonathan Ross earns a yearly fee of more than €6 million, while Graham Norton earns almost €2.7 million.

Gerry Ryan was the second highest-paid presenter last year but he saw his salary fall from €676,354 in 2007 to €629,865 in 2008.

He presents the eighth most listened to radio show in the State but became embroiled in controversy earlier this year when he initially refused to take a 10 per cent pay cut but later agreed.

The broadcaster had asked its highest paid presenters to take a voluntary 10 per cent pay cut earlier this year. This was followed by pay cuts for all the staff, ranging from 2.6 per cent to 12.5 per cent.

Marian Finucane, whose two weekend radio shows feature in the 10 most-listened shows, earned €570,000 - an increase of almost €100,000 on her 2007 pay.

Ryan Tubridy's pay increased by almost €200,000 between 2006 and 2008. Last year he earned €533,333 for presenting his morning radio show and Tubridy Tonighton RTÉ television.

Joe Duffy, who presents the State's second most listened to radio show Liveline, was RTÉ's fifth highest-paid presenter last year. He earned €408,889, compared with €377,648 in 2007.

Eamon Dunphy was the sixth highest-paid presenter last year with a fee of €328,051, up from €285,915 in 2007. Derek Mooney and News at Onepresenter Seán O'Rourke are the only two RTÉ employees on the 10 ten list.