Independent Broadcasters of Ireland have demanded RTE stars pay should to be capped.
Presenters on Ireland’s most watched station have long come under fire for their massive earnings with many believing their salaries need to be reduced.
John Purcell of KCLR radio 96FM station in Carlow-Kilkenny, said that RTE was using public money to subsidise “huge, huge salaries”.
“I think you’d search far and wide in the public service to find similar salaries,” he told the Irish Independent.
Payday: RTE stars like Kathryn Thomas have come under fire for their salaries | ANDRES POVEDA
While RTE staff are subject to semi-state pay caps but presenters who are designated as independent contractors, meaning stars like Ryan Tubridy and Kathryn Thomas do not suffer the same restrictions.
The most recent figures released by RTE revealed that Late Late Show host Ryan earns a whopping €495,000 a year under his new three year contract with the station signed in 2012.
John admitted that RTE “can operate in a ruthlessly commercial manner when it suits its purposes”.
