Controversy over coaching provided by broadcaster and former Fine Gael minister Ivan Yates to Fianna Fáil’s presidential campaign has sparked an internal Government row and fallout over his media work during the election.
Fine Gael TD and Minister of State for Migration Colm Brophy on Sunday told RTÉ Radio that Fianna Fáil had “questions to answer” on the matter.
He said Fianna Fáil could not “just dismiss” questions about the media training work Mr Yates did with Jim Gavin.
After the news emerged, Mr Yates’s role as a co-presenter of the Path to Power podcast with Today FM broadcaster Matt Cooper was ended.
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A Newstalk spokeswoman said: “Ivan Yates operated as a cover presenter on Newstalk for three days during the presidential campaign on September 23rd, 24th and 25th from 9am-12pm.”
“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.”
RTÉ said Mr Yates was interviewed three times about the election but not during the election period as defined by media regulator Coimisiún na Meán.
It has asked him why he did not disclose his involvement with one campaign, and said that had it been informed, it would have advised him that it would have to be disclosed to the audience. It said it is satisfied there was no breach of election guidelines by RTÉ.
Mr Brophy said it was “amazing” that Fianna Fáil had not disclosed the work.
“Fianna Fáil have questions to answer and I don’t think they can just dismiss it.”
He said broadcasters and the media regulator may need to examine the matter.
He said it was “surprising” nobody in Fianna Fáil “would think of putting their hand up and saying, ‘Oh, by the way, this person is actually working as part of our team on the campaign’.”
His comments earned a swift backlash from Fianna Fáil TDs.
One Minister said it was an “utterly inappropriate time for the asylum Minister to start a row in Government” in the wake of a fire in an accommodation centre for international protection applicants.
Pointing to the upcoming EU presidency, they said a united Government was needed and it was “no time for junior ministers to be firing potshots across Government”.
Another Fianna Fáil TD said it was “an attempt by Fine Gael to deflect”, adding that “rather than either party attacking or undermining the other, we all need to focus on delivering in Government”.
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Mr Yates sparked a campaign-trail controversy when he suggested that were he working with Fine Gael, he would “smear the bejaysus” out of Independent candidate Catherine Connolly.
A Fine Gael spokesman said it has not used Mr Yates for media training or similar work.
Mr Yates did not respond to a request for comment.
Coimisiún na Meán has been contacted for comment.
