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Miriam O’Callaghan ‘very embarrassed’ by salary publication

Miriam O’Callaghan has admitted that she feels ‘very embarrassed’ by her salary publication.

The Prime Time host was listed as the highest-paid female broadcaster yesterday, with an annual salary of €299,000, when RTÉ released their top ten highest-earners list. 

Miriam was one of three women to feature on the list, joining Marian Finucane (€295,000) and Claire Byrne (€201,500) – but hopes that more women will be included on the list in the future.

“It’s always very embarrassing to be honest. It’s difficult for it not to be when the figures go out there, but it’s happened to me for years so I’m used to it,” she told the Irish Independent.

Girl power: Miriam is the highest-paid female broadcaster in RTÉ – but hopes more women will join her on the list | MICHAEL CHESTER

“I try to work as hard as I can. I’m in the middle of my chat show, ‘Prime Time’, I do my radio show and that’s all I can say really. I try my best to work hard.”

Speaking about the ongoing gender pay gap issue, Miriam said, “It’s such a complicated issue. I’m now the highest paid woman at RTÉ and for that I’m very grateful. I’ve never suffered any discrimination in RTÉ myself.

“I’d love to see more women in the top. There’s three in the top 10 this year, and that is great. There’s Claire, myself and Marian and I think when we get to five that’s excellent and maybe one day we’ll get to six and the world won’t end.”

Sixth: Sean O’Rourke says he’s taking a ‘vow on monastic silence on all things to do with remuneration in RTÉ’ | VIPIRELAND.COM

Meanwhile, Sean O’Rourke, who landed at number six on the list with a salary of €290,113, has said that he’s taking a “vow on monastic silence on all things to do with remuneration in RTÉ.”

“I think I’ve slipped a little bit. I think I’m gone to number six but I’ve no complaints. I’m always happy to take whatever RTÉ is willing to pay me and I’m very lucky I’ve one of the best jobs on Irish radio, probably the best job. There’s no job I want other than the one I do.”

Meanwhile, broadcasters from rival stations weren’t critical when contacted about the salaries of RTÉ highest-paid stars.

Newstalk’s George Hook said, “They negotiate their salaries with RTÉ. RTÉ was happy to pay them, so I assume you have two happy campers. RTÉ sat them down and said ‘how much do you want?’ They said, ‘I want this much’ and RTÉ said, ‘great’, we’re happy to pay you.”

Hats off: George Hook doesn’t see what all the fuss is about when it comes to RTÉ’s top earners | VIPIRELAND.COM

“I don’t understand what all the kerfuffle is about. Is Rory McIlroy getting too much if he’s on two, three, four million a year for hitting a ball around the grass?”

Today FM’s Ian Dempsey said, “Good luck to the big earners. They can’t be blamed for accepting a big offer if it’s made to them. They are box office so deserve to be paid well. Ray has a TV show and a radio show so his pay is not that monstrous really, likewise with Ryan.”

While some were gracious about the RTÉ salaries, axed RTÉ host Dustin the Turkey wasn’t so kind.

“If RTÉ is stupid enough to write the cheques, let them take it. I don’t think any of them are worth it in there, maybe Claire Byrne at a push.

“Ray D’Arcy is brutal. Someone called into me the other day and said, ‘why don’t you have a TV licence?’ I showed them a picture of Ray D’Arcy and they said, ‘fair enough.'”

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