RTÉ Director General Kevin Bakhurst clashed with Morning Ireland presenter Sarah McInerney on Friday, May 15, 2026, regarding the broadcaster’s handling of Derek Mooney’s professional classification. The dispute centers on whether a 2020 decision to label the Mooney Goes Wild host as a producer obscured his status as a high-earning presenter.
Confrontation Over Reclassification Transparency
The confrontation between RTÉ Director General Kevin Bakhurst and Morning Ireland presenter Sarah McInerney highlights ongoing tensions regarding how the national broadcaster reports staff compensation. During the exchange, Bakhurst accused McInerney of applying an unfair gloss
to questions concerning a 2020 decision to reclassify Derek Mooney.
Between 2020 and 2024, the broadcaster categorized Mooney, the host of Mooney Goes Wild, as a producer rather than a presenter. This distinction is significant because it impacted how his earnings were represented in RTÉ’s public disclosures regarding its highest-paid on-air talent. The debate over whether this reclassification was a legitimate administrative change or a method to manage the visibility of high salaries remains a central point of contention for the broadcaster.
Revisions to the Top Earners List
Following recent scrutiny, RTÉ has updated its reporting methods to provide a more inclusive view of its top talent. The broadcaster revised its 2024 list of the 10 highest-earning presenters to include Mooney, citing a reconsideration of what constitutes a presenter for the purposes of the ranking. Under this updated 2024 list, Mooney holds the eighth position with earnings of just over €197,000.
The broadcaster’s approach to transparency appears to be shifting in response to external oversight. For its 2025 figures, RTÉ announced it would adjust its criteria to include personnel who hold dual roles. This decision follows specific recommendations from the Government’s Expert Advisory Committee. By implementing this change, RTÉ placed Mooney seventh on the 2025 list, with his earnings exceeding €202,000.
Historical Salary and Role Fluctuations
The recent reclassification and subsequent list updates provide a clearer view of Mooney’s long-term earnings and shifting status within RTÉ. His current figures, while substantial, remain below his peak reported earnings from over a decade ago. In 2011, Mooney ranked seventh on the presenter list with a salary of €220,063, placing him ahead of prominent figures such as Sean O’Rourke and Bryan Dobson.
Mooney’s professional classification has fluctuated several times in recent years. In 2012 and 2013, he was classified as an employee. He reappeared on the top 10 presenters list in 2014, occupying the 10th spot. However, he did not feature on the list from 2015 onwards, as it is understood that his earnings during the period between 2015 and 2019 did not qualify him for inclusion.
This latest dispute over Mooney’s classification arrives as RTÉ faces renewed pressure regarding its financial disclosures. Recent reports indicate the broadcaster has become embroiled in a fresh payments scandal involving a staff member whose salary was not properly accounted for. The combination of these classification errors and the broader scrutiny of RTÉ’s pay structures suggests a period of intense regulatory and public oversight for the organization.
