Wrong to link Ivan Yates ‘smear’ comments with training Jim Gavin – Taoiseach

By Gráinne Ní Aodha, PA

Comments made by political commentator Ivan Yates that Fine Gael should run a smear campaign should not be linked with his training of Fianna Fáil candidate Jim Gavin, the Taoiseach has said.

The two coalition partners are dealing with revelations that Mr Yates, a former Fine Gael minister and ex-broadcaster, provided around four hours of media training to Mr Gavin during the presidential election.

Fianna Fáil said this took place from September 23rd to 29th and focused on preparing for interviews on two programmes.

Newstalk said a review is underway after Mr Yates presented a programme on its airwaves on three dates during the presidential election campaign and did not inform it of “any conflict of interest”.

I think it's now very clear that the issue goes beyond the presidential election, but that's a matter for others

Tánaiste and Fine Gael minister Simon Harris said that it was “frustrating” that its presidential candidate Heather Humphreys had to answer repeated questions about whether she was running a smear campaign against left-wing independent Catherine Connolly based on comments made by Mr Yates.

Mr Yates had said on Newstalk’s Calling It podcast published on October 9th that Fine Gael should respond to opinion polls putting Ms Connolly ahead by attempting to “smear the bejaysus” out of her.

Speaking on his way into Cabinet on Tuesday, Mr Harris said he did not want to comment on internal Fianna Fáil matters.

He then said: “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.

“It’s interesting all these bits of information came into the public domain after the election campaign.”

He added: “I think there’s also legitimate issues around transparency in media that I think broadcasters and the regulator in Coimisiún na Meán should consider as well.

“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.”

Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said he believed there had been “a lack of balance, candidly, and perspective” on the issue.

He said: “All political parties use media training from time to time, Fianna Fáil is no different to any other political party in that respect.

“Indeed, Ivan Yates had worked for the party in the European elections and in the general election; it would have been on public record in Sipo, would have been as far back as last August in respect of the Europeans and in January in terms of the general, so no secret there.

“I would take issue with some attempts to conflate the fact that he worked four hours with Jim Gavin and subsequent remarks he made in respect of the presidential that had nothing to do with Fianna Fáil or nothing to do with us, we wouldn’t approve of, or wouldn’t agree with.

“But there’s been an attempt to conflate the two, which I think is not accurate and is wrong.

“The intersection between politics, media, polling companies, pundits, commentators, is a very fluid one, an interesting one, and I don’t think it’s just about one individual.

“I think people should declare a conflict of interest, but it’s a matter that everybody in (politics) and in media should reflect on.”

Mr Yates is a former bookmaker, ex-Fine Gael minister and broadcaster who was a co-host of the Path To Power political podcast.

He is no longer to co-host the podcast in the wake of the revelations of his involvement with Mr Gavin’s campaign.

His podcast co-host 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.”