WEALTH May 21, 2026 0 Comments

Evanne Ní Chuilinn Exposes Shocking Pay Silence at RTE – What They Don’t Want You to Know About Presenter Salaries!

So, here we go again with RTÉ and the age-old question: why do some folks get paid like rock stars while others—doing just as much, if not more—are left clutching scraps? Fine Gael senator and former RTÉ journalist Evanna Ní Chuilinn just dropped a bombshell accusation against RTÉ’s director general, Kevin Bakhurst, claiming he’s running a “two-tier” pay system. What’s wild here isn’t just the pay disparities but the behind-the-scenes shuffle—think presenters classified as producers, hidden payouts, and contract limbo that keeps talent in the shadows. After spending a decade in the trenches without a presenter contract, Evanna’s calling out the inconsistencies, the preferential treatment, and frankly, the lack of transparency. Are we witnessing a fair shake for everyone, or is RTÉ’s pay structure more like a game of musical chairs—with only certain folks getting a seat? Hold onto your hats; this is just the tip of the iceberg. LEARN MORE

Fine Gael senator Evanne Ní Chuilinn has accused RTÉ director general Kevin Bakhurst of presiding over a ‘two-tier’ pay system, writes Craig Hughes.

She made the comments during a tense appearance by Mr Bakhurst at the Oireachtas Media Committee.

Former RTÉ journalist Ms Ní Chuilinn also said she had been “treated very poorly” by the national broadcaster’s head of sport and another senior figure during her time at the organisation.

Senior management returned before the committee yesterday to answer questions over the latest controversy at RTÉ, following revelations about payments to Derek Mooney.

Last week, RTÉ admitted Mooney, host of Mooney Goes Wild, had been classified as a producer and omitted from its published list of top ten highest-paid presenters between 2020 and 2023, despite him earning enough to feature each year.

His earnings were €195,079 in 2020, €187,854 in 2021, €188,885 in 2022 and €192,592 in 2023, placing him among RTÉ’s top earners.

Ms Ní Chuilinn told the committee she spent a decade presenting programmes at RTÉ without ever receiving a presenter contract, despite repeatedly requesting one.

“I was never paid or contracted as a presenter, and I should have been, because, as you say, presenters earn more than reporters,” she said.

The senator, who worked at RTÉ for 20 years before entering politics in 2024, claimed there were still staff presenting high-profile shows without formal presenter contracts.

As an example, she said one presenter involved in World Cup coverage earned €70,000, while researchers had presented programmes such as the Today Show.

Mr Bakhurst rejected the suggestion presenters were working on researcher contracts, and said there had always been a range of salaries depending on experience, audience connection and the value presenters brought to RTÉ.

He said some staff were originally hired as reporters or producers before presentation duties became part of their role. In those cases, he said, RTÉ could provide an additional presenter allowance on top of salary.

Ms Ní Chuilinn said she had received allowances of up to €10,000 during her time at RTÉ, but argued they were taxed at 50% and did not count towards pension contributions.

“I feel like it’s you that’s getting away with a two-tier system, and that you’re not actually being punished for the transparency,” she told Mr Bakhurst.

She also accused RTÉ of allowing flexibility in some cases while denying similar requests from other staff.
“You were able to reclassify Derek Mooney when it suited to keep him out of the top ten, but there are hundreds of people working in RTÉ who asked to be reclassified and were told that that wasn’t an option for them,” she said.

Evanne Ní Chuilinn — Kevin Bakhurst. (Pic: Sasko Lazarov/© RollingNews.ie)

Mr Bakhurst acknowledged disparities within RTÉ pay structures, telling the committee there were “some people who are paid too much and some people who are paid too little”.

He said management was working to address this.

Ms Ní Chuilinn urged the director general to “do the right thing” for current staff by ensuring contracts and pay accurately reflected the work that presenters carried out.