[JMT1985]

Do they have to declare the pay of top talent in the same way the BBC do?

Yes, the top earners list of always published, but it is published in arrears, meaning the salaries listed are usually from two years previous. 

Here is the most recent salary list, and bare in mind the salaries may look small compared to BBC salaries, but of course RTE is a much smaller company than the BBC 

www.rte.ie  

Paid for by the €160 a year licence fee for households, but also RTE is a semi state company, meaning it also carries limited advertising and sponsorship