Political commentator Ivan Yates’s remarks suggesting Fine Gael should conduct a smear campaign should not be associated with his role in training Fianna Fáil candidate Jim Gavin, according to Taoiseach Micheál Martin.
The coalition partners are currently addressing revelations that Mr Yates, a former Fine Gael minister and broadcaster, provided approximately four hours of media coaching to Mr Gavin during the Presidential Election, reports RTE.
Fianna Fáil confirmed that this training took place between 23 and 29 September and focused on interview preparation for two programmes.
Mr Martin stated that it is inaccurate to link Mr Yates’s on-air comments with his professional work for Fianna Fáil, reports RTE.
“I take issue with attempts to conflate the fact that he worked for four hours with Jim Gavin and subsequent remarks he made that had nothing to do with Fianna Fáil and we wouldn’t agree with attempt to conflate the two not accurate and wrong,” he said.
Speaking ahead of Cabinet this morning, the Taoiseach noted there had been a “lack of balance and perspective” in discussions surrounding Mr Yates’s involvement with the party.
He added that all political parties periodically use consultants and media trainers, and Fianna Fáil is no exception, reports RTE.
Mr Martin also pointed out that Mr Yates’s previous work for the party during the European and General Elections was already disclosed in public SIPO filings.
He further stressed the importance of transparency, stating that everyone in politics and media should declare conflicts of interest, reports RTE.
“The intersection between politics, media, polling companies, pundits commentator is a very fluid and interesting one and it’s not just about one individual,” he said.
“People should declare conflicts of interest and everyone should reflect on that,” he added.
Newstalk has confirmed that it is conducting a review after Mr Yates presented a show on three dates during the Presidential Election campaign without disclosing “any conflict of interest,” reports RTE.
Tánaiste Simon Harris expressed frustration that Fine Gael’s presidential candidate Heather Humphreys faced repeated questions over whether her campaign was engaged in a smear effort against independent candidate Catherine Connolly, based on Yates’s comments.
Mr Yates had stated on Newstalk’s *Calling It* podcast, published on 9 October, that Fine Gael should respond to opinion polls placing Ms Connolly ahead by attempting to “smear the bejaysus” out of her, reports RTE.
Speaking en route to Cabinet, Mr Harris said he did not wish to comment on Fianna Fáil’s internal affairs.
He then added: “If you want my very honest answer, it’s frustrating to me that many of you in the media went through a Presidential Election campaign asking the Fine Gael candidate time and time again about comments that Ivan Yates apparently gave to Fine Gael when it’s now quite clear, not only was he not advising Fine Gael, he was being paid for by another party.”
He continued, “It’s interesting all these bits of information came into the public domain after the election campaign.”
Mr Harris also said there were broader questions about media transparency that should be examined by broadcasters and the regulator, Coimisiún na Meáin, reports RTE.
“It’s interesting that some organisations have decided to keep their analysis just to the period of the Presidential Election.
“I think it’s now very clear that the issue goes beyond the Presidential Election, but that’s a matter for others,” he said.
Mr Yates, a former bookmaker, Fine Gael minister and broadcaster, was previously co-host of *The Path To Power* political podcast.
He has stepped down as co-host following revelations about his work with Mr Gavin’s campaign, reports RTE.
His podcast partner Matt Cooper said on Monday: “I came to a decision that it wasn’t appropriate for the listeners not to know about what work he had done from Jim Gavin when he was providing commentary on Jim Gavin,” reports RTE.
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