Fianna Fáil Engages Ivan Yates for Media Training Amid Controversy

Fianna Fáil has confirmed it hired former Fine Gael minister Ivan Yates to provide media training for its presidential candidate Jim Gavin during the recent campaign. The party stated that Yates offered four hours of “interview and debate training,” but emphasized that he was not part of the campaign team. In addition to Gavin, three Fianna Fáil ministers—James Browne, Darragh O’Brien, and Norma Foley—received media coaching from Yates.

The media training, which reportedly occurred prior to the last general election, was funded through the secretarial allowance allocated to ministers for public relations purposes. This revelation has sparked controversy, especially after the disclosure of Yates’s involvement with Gavin, who subsequently ended his presidential bid. The situation has led to an internal government dispute.

Following the emergence of this information, Coimisiún na Meán, the media regulator, announced it would reach out to major broadcasters Newstalk and RTÉ for additional details regarding Yates’s role during the presidential election. O’Brien indicated he participated in three media training sessions with Yates while serving as Minister for Housing in the last government. A spokesperson for O’Brien noted that he had not undergone any media training since becoming Minister for Transport and Minister for Climate, Energy, and the Environment.

Yates, who has a background as a bookmaker and broadcaster, previously co-hosted the Path to Power political podcast. His involvement in the podcast ended following the news of his coaching relationship with Gavin. In a statement released on Monday, Fianna Fáil clarified that Yates’s engagement with the party concluded on September 29, and that he was specifically hired for two debate programmes focusing on the dynamics of in-studio interviews.

The party highlighted that it utilizes a range of media skill consultants, similar to other political organizations. “He did not provide any campaign advice, nor was he involved in the campaign team,” the statement asserted. Browne received coaching from Yates earlier this year after becoming a minister in January.

The Path to Power podcast did not disclose Yates’s coaching relationship with Browne during discussions about the minister, raising questions about transparency. In a May 2 episode, Yates commented on the fallout from Browne’s plan to appoint the National Asset Management Agency’s chief executive, Brendan McDonagh, to lead the Government’s new Housing Activation Office, describing the situation as “almost FUBAR territory.”

The podcast clarified that it lacked knowledge of any professional ties between Yates and Browne. Yates has been approached for comments regarding these developments. A spokesperson for Newstalk confirmed that Yates served as a cover presenter for three days during the presidential campaign but did not disclose any conflicts of interest. This matter is currently under review.

RTÉ stated that Yates was interviewed three times regarding the election, but not during the specified election period as determined by Coimisiún na Meán. The broadcaster has sought clarification on why Yates did not reveal his involvement with one campaign, indicating that had they been informed, they would have mandated a disclosure to the audience. RTÉ expressed satisfaction that it did not violate election guidelines.

As the situation continues to unfold, the implications of Yates’s coaching activities and the responses from Fianna Fáil and regulatory bodies will be closely monitored in the coming days.