RTÉ should not use taxpayers’ cash to fund pay rises for the station’s wealthiest staff, Sinn Féin has said. 

Following the controversy surrounding hidden payments to Ryan Tubridy, the number of people paying the licence fee has plummeted - something that has left the broadcaster spending millions more than it raises in revenue. 

Director General Kevin Bakhurst has told the Oireachtas RTÉ will be bankrupt by spring without a bailout but the Government has said one will not be provided until they are presented with a detailed plan setting out significant cutbacks. 

Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee Chair Brian Stanley has said it is important the money is not used to support those who already have high salaries. 

“Directly in relation to the pay issue, what we would say is that some workers will be entitled to a pay increase - those who are low paid in RTÉ,” he said. 

“But certainly [for] the higher paid ones, there should be no money sought from the taxpayer to those who earn over €100,000 at RTÉ.”  

Top 100 salaries

In July, RTÉ published the salaries of its top 100 earners with the top three presenters all presenters or ‘non-management’ workers as they were described. 

The highest earner was Ryan Tubridy, who no longer works for the station but was previously paid €515,000 per year.

The second highest earner was paid €343,083 per year and the third-highest had a salary of €342,000.

RTÉ has been contacted for comment.

Main image: RTÉ Director-General Kevin Bakhurst. Picture by: Image: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews