Newstalk also conducting review as Ivan Yates failed to disclose ‘conflict of interest’ when filling in for Pat Kenny during election campaign
The party previously declined to make any detailed statement, but broke with that stance this morning amid deepening unease with the Coalition.
“Like all political parties, Fianna Fáil has for many years used the services of media skills consultants,” the statement said.
“The party currently works with a number of providers, all on an ad-hoc basis.
“In relation to the recent presidential campaign, the party retained the services of Ivan Yates to provide interview and debate training (of failed candidate Mr Gavin).”
The focus of the training was on the practicalities of in-studio interviews and was centred on preparations for two specific programmes, Fianna Fail said.
“Ivan provided two sessions in the early stage of the campaign, between the period 23rd September to 29th September.
“There was no further training or intervention provided after 29th September.
“Ivan’s training totalled approximately four hours. He did not provide any campaign advice, nor was he involved in the campaign team.”
The statement clarifies that Mr Yates offered training for both Mr Gavin’s Drivetime interview with Sarah McInerney on September 24, and the campaign’s first debate on Virgin Media television on September 29.
Mr Gavin dropped out of the presidential race following the The Week in Politics debate on October 5, when he was further questioned on revelations that he owed a former tenant overpaid rent, which was first reported by the Irish Independent.
The party’s statement comes after Newstalk Radio said yesterday they are reviewing political commentator Ivan Yates’ work for them during the presidential election after they said he failed to inform them of any potential “conflict of interest”.
This comes after the Irish Independent revealed on Saturday that Yates had been secretly working as an advisor to Fianna Fáil’s failed presidential candidate, Jim Gavin.
Yates worked for Newstalk, and appeared on the popular Path to Power podcast during the election campaign. Both Matt Cooper and NK Management – who own Path to Power podcast – said he did not disclose his advisory role and immediately ended his association with the show as a consequence.
Now, Newstalk have said that Yates worked for them as a presenter on Newstalk for three days during the presidential campaign on September, 23, 24, and 25, from 9am-12pm, covering for Pat Kenny.
“Ivan Yates did not inform Newstalk of any conflict of interest relating to the presidential election campaign. This matter is currently under review by Newstalk management,” a statement from the broadcaster said.
Ivan Yates has wished the ‘Path to Power’ podcast every continued success in a LinkedIn post earlier today, sharing a clip of what he described as his ‘last episode.’
Ivan Yates has been axed as co-host of podcast ‘Path to Power.’ Photo: Mark Condren
Today’s News in 90 Seconds – Monday November 3
Mr Yates participated in, and contributed to many high-profile conversations around the time of the presidential election, while working with Mr Gavin on his campaign and not disclosing it to the public or companies he worked for.
After the Irish Independent revelation, it was announced that Yates would no longer be part of Cooper’s podcast.
“Following disclosures in the Irish Independent (Saturday) that Ivan Yates provided training services to Fianna Fail candidate, Jim Gavin, during the recent Presidential election, we have taken the decision to end Ivan’s role as co-host of Path To Power with immediate effect,” a statement from Cooper and NK Management read.
“Neither Matt Cooper nor NK Productions were aware that Ivan was working on the campaign, and both believe that this information should have been shared with the audience of the podcast when the Presidential election was being discussed.
“Ivan recently advised the Path To Power team of his wish to leave the podcast in the New Year. Nevertheless, the team have taken the decision that in light of this development, his role as a co-host will end immediately” the statement said.
Matt Cooper, the co-host of ‘Path to Power’ spoke exclusively to the Sunday Independent, and shared his shock and dismay at what must now happen due to Mr Yates’ concealed involvement with the presidential campaign of the Fianna Fáil candidate.
“I am rarely shocked but I was shocked. And then I suppose I was angry and now I’m sad because I very much enjoyed working with Ivan,” Mr Cooper said, who admitted that going back into studio with wasn’t an option when he felt that he “hadn’t been correctly informed,” on something so fundamental to their work.
He said on Saturday that: “While we have always been aware of Ivan’s commercial activities, his decision not to advise us that he was actively engaged in the Presidential election on behalf of one of the parties is disappointing. Had he shared that information with us, we would have made sure that our audience was aware of the matter when we were discussing the election.”
Fine Gael Media minister Patrick O’Donovan said Ivan Yates’ role in the presidential election is “a matter for Fianna Fáil” but branded Yates’ comments about smearing the “bejaysus” out of Catherine Connolly as “disgusting”.
“It’s very clear that his commentary, which was disgusting…is now very evidently, clearly, not attached to Fine Gael. Heather Humphreys had to spend days, if not weeks, going around defending someone who was working for a different political party and I think it would be in everyone’s best interest now if Ivan Yates just came clean and said what he was up to.
“He did Heather Humphreys a huge amount of damage and it stuck…and the fact that he was a former Fine Gael minister doesn’t seem to have any relevance because he was on the payroll of Fianna Fáil, it appears,” Minister O’Donovan told Virgin Media News in Chicago on Sunday.
In a statement on Sunday evening, RTÉ said that Ivan Yates was “not employed by RTÉ as a presenter during the Coimisiún na Meán election period, nor was he a contributor on any RTÉ programmes during this period”.
The election rules of Coimisiún na Meán began on September 22 until election day and RTÉ said it is satisfied there was no breach of election guidelines on its programmes.
“In the pre-election period, he [Yates] was interviewed on two programmes: On 14 August he was interviewed on Prime Time after the withdrawal of Mairead McGuinness. On 02 September he was interviewed on Morning Ireland about the Fine Gael nomination process.
“In the post-election period Mr Yates was interviewed during the ‘live’ count coverage in Dublin Castle on 25 October. He was also interviewed on Prime Time on 28 October,” a spokesperson said.
“RTÉ relies on the professional bone fides of those invited to declare if they have a conflict of interest with respect to any candidate or party, if that would not be publicly known.
“Ivan Yates was well established as a media commentator since leaving politics. RTÉ has asked Mr Yates why he did not disclose his involvement with one campaign.
“Had RTÉ been informed by Mr Yates, we would have advised him that this would have to be disclosed to the audience, if he was to participate in any programme.
“RTÉ is satisfied there was no breach of the election guidelines,” the spokesperson said.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio One this morning, Minister Colm Brophy said that this information “raises serious questions for Fianna Fáil,” who are already in what would appear to be a precarious position regarding the lack of satisfaction shown by some party members towards their leader, Micheál Martin.
Mr Brophy suggested that the “regulations around fairness and impartiality that affect broadcasters,” were breached by Mr Yates, if he was “commercially involved in a campaign but not declaring that to the broadcasters who they were coming on to contribute to, or work with.”