RTÉ Director General Kevin Bakhurst said the reclassification of Derek Mooney from presenter to producer between 2020 and 2024 was justifiable [3].
The decision comes as the Irish public broadcaster faces renewed scrutiny over how it reports the salaries of its highest-paid staff. The classification of talent determines which lists they appear on, raising questions about transparency in public spending.
Bakhurst addressed the move after Mooney was excluded from the presenter top-10 pay list. He said the decision was "perfectly justifiable" [2]. The Director General said the arrangement was not a side deal [1].
According to RTÉ, the reclassification was intended to provide maximum transparency for the audience [1]. The broadcaster said the role designation accurately reflected the work performed during that period.
Financial records indicate that Derek Mooney earned €197,151 in 2024 [1]. This salary placed him eighth on the 2024 list of top earners [1].
The period of reclassification spanned from 2020 to 2024 [3]. This four-year window saw Mooney listed as a producer despite his public-facing role as a presenter, a distinction that affects how the public perceives the broadcaster's pay hierarchy.
“"The decision was perfectly justifiable."”
This dispute highlights the ongoing tension between RTÉ's internal administrative classifications and public expectations of transparency. By labeling a high-profile presenter as a producer, the broadcaster effectively moved a top earner out of the most scrutinized pay category, fueling perceptions of a lack of openness regarding executive and talent compensation.
