Radio presenter Gerry Ryan was paid €463,450 in 2003, making him RTÉ's top paid presenter for the second year in a row.
Figures released today by the national broadcaster for its top earners show that for the second time, Ryan beats Late Late Showhost and fellow radio presenter Pat Kenny into second place in the earnings stakes.
Kenny, whose contract was under negotiation during 2003, earned €343,099 that year.
Marian Finucane, who earned €329,227, was third-highest paid; along with Kenny, she has suffered a recent decline in her listenership. She was followed by Livelinepresenter Joe Duffy in fourth place, with earnings of €228,743.
Veteran broadcaster Brian Farrell was paid €175,618 by RTÉ in 2003, although his payment included a sum in recognition of his long-term service in addition to his contractual salary, RTÉ said.
Winning Streakshow presenter Derek Mooney, who also presents the Saturday morning radio show Mooney Goes Wild on One, earned €162,950 in 2003. The sum makes him RTÉ's top earning presenter who is also an employee of the station - the other major earning presenters are paid as contractors.
Prime Timepresenter Miriam O'Callaghan, who is to have her own entertainment show on television this summer, earned €144,432 in 2003.
Charlie Bird, the station's chief news correspondent, again finds himself in the top 10, with a salary of €138,246.
John Kelly, who has a radio show and who also presents the late-night television show The Viewearned €137,826, putting him ninth on the list of 10 top paid presenters. Sports presenter George Hamilton, with total earnings of €137,553, is the station's 10th top earner.
Gerry Ryan also topped the list in 2002, when he was paid a total of €601,882, up from €260,925 the previous year. Pat Kenny was second on the list for 2002, earning some €556,430.
RTÉ's director general made a commitment to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources to release the information on the 10 most highly paid on-air broadcasters for 2003.
The information is released in tandem with the broadcaster's annual report, which reveals RTÉ posted a surplus of €6.8 million for 2004, despite rising costs, higher staff numbers and a charge of €10 million to upgrade its headquarters in Donnybrook.
The amounts released today distinguish between employees of RTÉ and contractors, who are paid by way of fees (excluding VAT).
Ryan is paid through his company Balcom Management Ltd; Pat Kenny is paid through Pat Kenny Media Services Ltd; Marian Finucane is paid through Montrose Services Ltd and Joe Duffy is paid through Claddaghgreen Ltd.
Of the top 10 earners, only Derek Mooney and Charlie Bird are directly employed by RTÉ.