No surprise who is at number one
RTÉ have released their annual report on the salaries of the highest paid employees. As usual, the earnings are published two years in arrears, so the salaries below are for 2016.
While they are still sky-high, they mark a 32% reduction since 2008. RTÉ Director-General, Dee Forbes, said: "The audited figures released today for 2016 sees RTÉ maintain our commitment to reduce these earnings by 30% as compared to 2008 levels, while continuing to value the significant contribution our presenters make, and to RTÉ’s ability to optimise commercial revenue to support Ireland’s public media.
"This will continue to be an area of focus for me. Within a challenging marketplace and in the absence of meaningful funding reform, we are making significant efforts to reduce costs across the organisation, in addition to the considerable reduction in operating costs implemented since 2008."
It's no surprise that once again 'Late Late Show' host Ryan Tubridy is the highest paid presenter, earning €495,000, the same amount he was paid in 2015.
In at number 2 is Ray D'Arcy with earnings of €450,000, while Joe Duffy follows in third place earning €389,988.
The list features four female presenters - Marian Finucane, Miriam O'Callaghan, Claire Byrne and Mary Wilson, although the top 4 are all male presenters.
1. Ryan Tubridy - 495,000
2. Ray D'Arcy - 450,000
3. Joe Duffy - 389,988
4. Sean O'Rourke - 308,964
5. Marian Finucane - 300,617
6. Miriam O'Callaghan - 299,000
7. Claire Byrne - 216,000
8. Bryan Dobson - 198,146
9. George Hamilton - 186,195
10. Mary Wilson - 185,679