Ivan Yates has defended his decision not to publicly disclose that he provided media training to Fianna Fáil presidential candidate Jim Gavin, saying the work was subject to client confidentiality.
The former broadcaster addressed the controversy for the first time during an appearance on RTÉ’s Today programme with David McCullagh.
He described the reaction to the revelation as disproportionate, stating that “I’ve done nothing wrong” and noting that the situation had led to him receiving more attention than DJ Carey in recent days.
Fianna Fáil has confirmed that Gavin received coaching from Yates between September 23rd and 29th, specifically for interviews on two broadcast programmes, and that several cabinet Ministers have been advised by Yates in recent years.
The matter has raised questions about transparency in some quarters, given that Yates continued to front radio and podcast content during the same period. Specifically, he hosted three editions of The Pat Kenny Show on Newstalk while Gavin was in the race, and he also co-presented his Path to Power podcast with fellow broadcaster Matt Cooper commenting on the race’s dynamics.
Notably, the Path to Power podcast will now proceed with guest contributors rather than the usual co-presenter format, after Cooper criticised the lack of disclosure and jettisoned Yates from the show.
Newstalk has since launched a review, noting that no conflict of interest had been declared in relation to the training.
Media regulator Coimisiún na Meán, Yates, and several communications consultants have been asked to attend an Oireachtas committee meeting to examine transparency around political commentary. Committee chair Alan Kelly has said the public must be able to see when those commenting on political figures are also advising political parties or candidates.
Yates confirmed he intends to appear before the committee, and said that neither colleagues on the podcast nor Newstalk management had asked whether he was advising any presidential candidate.
He added that Newstalk reviewed recordings from his programmes during the relevant dates and hadn’t found anything problematic in his statements to date. He said he remains satisfied that no rules of Coimisiún na Meán have been breached.
He explained that client privacy has always been central to his media-training business, which he established after leaving full-time broadcasting in 2020.
“I had a golden rule and that was a client confidentiality,” he said.
He stressed that his training work has no policy role and does not involve shaping party platforms.
Describing his role, he said, “My job is like a physio at the last minute to get them match fit.” Yates has previously said that he does not tell politicians “what to say” – only “how to say it”.
He also noted that no other media trainer has publicly listed their political clients, adding that confidentiality is standard practice in that industry.
He also said he did not have a personal stake in the outcome of the presidential race.
“Let’s be clear,” he said.
“I had initially said some things in Jim Gavin’s favour because I thought he would be a good choice. But I quickly found out that he is not a politician and had no political skills.”
He said he always asks himself whether his work is lawful, and pointed out that “the 2009 Broadcasting Acts do not cover podcasts”.
Summing up his position, he said: “I broke no rules. In my mind I’ve done nothing wrong. Any coaching job I have has not compromised my own opinions.”
Defending his party amid the controversy, Fianna Fáil leader and Taoiseach Micheál Martin said that all parties use media training and that this is standard practice.
“All the political parties use media training,” he said.
“Fianna Fail is no different to any other political party in that respect.”
He added that the “intersection between politics, media, polling companies, pundits, commentators is a very fluid one, an interesting one”, and that the issue could not be confined to one individual or party.
“I think people should declare a conflict of interest,” he said.
“But it’s a matter that everybody, including in politics and in media, should reflect on this.”