Kenny - I'm working harder for less cash

BROADCASTER Pat Kenny claimed he is working harder than ever before, and for less.

The 61-year-old defended his position as RTE's highest-paid star, and stressed that he would "never put a gun to RTE's head" when it came to salary negotiations.

He accepted that, regardless of any future negotiations he might conduct with RTE , his salary will only drop further.

Figures released on Friday evening revealed Pat was paid €729, 604 in 2009, down €221,372 or 23pc on 2008.

"I've done my bit, as you can see from the comparison, but this is part of a process. There is only one way these are going and it's down," he said.

Kenny left the station's flagship programme, The Late Late Show, in the summer of 2009. However, he said his workload increased as he became of host of RTE's Frontline debate programme, as well as presenting the Today programme on RTE Radio 1.

"In spite of these changes, I now work harder than I have ever before."