“I was due to be on RTÉ, but a minute to being on RTÉ, for some reason, I was declined,” Patrick O'Donovan told Newstalk Breakfast with Anton Savage.

New figures from the broadcaster detail how 18 people were on more than €200,000 on December 31st.

The documentation states that RTÉ is currently inviting expressions of interest submissions from potential candidates.

This will be part of a phased voluntary exit programme, which will cost around €50 million.

This week, the Government agreed to provide a €56 million bail-out for RTÉ after the broadcaster set out plans to reduce its workforce by 400 by 2028.