RTÉ Director General Kevin Bakhurst said the decision to classify presenter Derek Mooney as a producer was "perfectly justifiable" [1].

The move comes amid scrutiny over how the Irish public broadcaster reports the earnings of its highest-paid talent. The classification affects how names appear on transparency lists, which are used to hold the state-funded organization accountable for its spending.

Bakhurst addressed the role of Mooney, whose position was reclassified from presenter to producer for the period between 2020 and 2024 [1]. This change meant Mooney did not initially appear on the lists of the top 10 highest-earning presenters for those years [1]. Bakhurst said the classification was not a side deal [2].

According to the Director General, the decision aligned with Mooney's contract as an executive producer [3]. The broadcaster has since revised its top 10 highest-earning presenters list for 2024 to include Mooney after redefining the criteria for what constitutes a presenter [1].

RTÉ has faced pressure to be more open about its financial arrangements with on-air talent. Bakhurst said the current approach is intended to provide the public with a clearer picture of the organization's payroll structure, adding that "we want maximum transparency for the audience" [3].

The broadcaster maintains that the reclassification reflects the actual duties performed by the employee rather than an attempt to hide earnings. By updating the 2024 list, the organization aims to resolve contradictions between contract titles and public-facing roles [1].

“"perfectly justifiable"”

This dispute highlights the tension between contractual job titles and public perception of 'talent' at state-funded broadcasters. By reclassifying a high-profile presenter as a producer, RTÉ risked appearing as though it were circumventing transparency rules. The subsequent decision to include Mooney in the 2024 earnings list suggests a shift toward a broader definition of 'presenter' to satisfy public and regulatory demands for accountability.