Ivan Yates media training controversy
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn accused Fianna Fáil of failing to disclose media coaching paid for from party funds to Ivan Yates, despite his presenting as independent. The Minister rejected the charge, said parties may hire trainers, and argued any conflict of interest was for Yates to disclose.
In three successive elections Fianna Fáil engaged and paid for media coaching services provided by broadcaster Ivan Yates.
He coached six Fianna Fáil Ministers, including the Taoiseach, yet you failed to disclose this relationship even though there was a clear conflict of interest. You knew Ivan Yates was playing for your team, contributing to Fianna Fáil election strategy and then presenting himself as an independent commentator in the national media, yet you said nothing.
Fianna Fáil already attempted to engineer a situation in this Dáil whereby Michael Lowry's crew could sit in government and opposition at the same time. Now, you think there is no problem with a consultant working for your party and then working for the media whose job it is to hold you to account. Of course, Ivan Yates should have disclosed his working relationship with Fianna Fáil. The Minister, Deputy Chambers, was the director of elections for Fianna Fáil during the presidential election. Did he not see a responsibility to publicly declare this relationship?
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I absolutely refute and reject what you are after saying there. All political parties and many politicians who are not part of one receive media training. It has been a matter of public record that Ivan Yates was providing media training to various politicians within Fianna Fáil over a series of years. Fianna Fáil has every right to hire contractors or media trainers as it sees fit. It is a matter for Ivan Yates to disclose any potential or direct conflicts of interest in his interaction with or contribution to media organisations or as a commentator. I am sure Sinn Féin hires media trainers. It spends a lot of time hiring expert lawyers down in the High Court when it comes to defamation actions.
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We are talking about a person who presents himself as independent.
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Something you prioritise around your funding is to take defamation actions against many members of the media.
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It is a totally different matter. It is a matter of an analyst presenting as independent while playing for your team.
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That is how you prioritise your resources. We are able to hire media trainers and we have every right to do that. It is for Ivan Yates to respond to any issue in terms of his own conflicts of interest.