Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)

It is very variable. It might do no harm for me to nail a myth. Despite the high profile of presenters one hears on air during the day and the sums of money, real or imagined, they are alleged to receive, I assure the House that I and the vast majority of people who work on air in RTE are paid basic union rates which, as professional fees, are taxable. Whenever I say this within these precincts I get a wry look from my colleagues who point to some of the more illustrious and celebrated on air personalities, as if to say they do not believe me. I assure them it is true.