Political commentator Ivan Yates did not flag any potential conflicts of interest when he talked up Jim Gavin's chances of winning the presidential election on the Indo Sport podcast last September.
Mr Yates told the podcast that the election was Jim Gavin's to lose.
Fianna Fáil confirmed yesterday that it retained the services of Mr Yates to provide interview and debate training for Jim Gavin.
He did two sessions with Mr Gavin in the early stages of the campaign, between 23 September to 29 September.
Mr Yates has done media training with a number of Fianna Fáil figures since 2022 including the Taoiseach Micheál Martin as well as Ministers Darragh O'Brien, James Browne, and Norma Foley. He also provided this training for Dara Calleary and James Lawless before they were appointed to the Cabinet.
A spokesperson for Mediahuis Ireland said today: "Ivan Yates was a guest on one episode of Indo Sport which aired on September 9.
"Based on the timelines now published by Fianna Fáil, this was prior to his work with the presidential candidate Jim Gavin. Mr Yates did not flag any potential conflicts of interest before his appearance."
Yates not a guest on RTÉ programmes during election periods last year
RTÉ issued a statement this afternoon saying that Mr Yates was not a guest on any of its election programmes on television or radio during the election periods for the General and Local/European Elections in 2024.
However, the broadcaster said: "He did appear on RTÉ on three occasions outside of the Coimisiún na Meán election rules periods but did not disclose his association with Fianna Fáil to RTÉ at any time."
RTÉ said in relation to "the European/Local Elections, Mr Yates was on the Election Results programme on 10 June 2024".
In relation to the General Election 2024: "Mr Yates was a panellist on Upfront With Katie Hannon along with former taoiseach [Bertie] Ahern and Sinn Féin's Kathleen Funchion on 4 November 2024 discussing the impending election."
RTÉ also said that Mr Yates "featured on the General Election Results programme on 30 November 2024".
The broadcaster said the Coimisiún na Meán election rules for broadcasters applied in the local and European elections from 7 May to 7 June 2024; and in the General Election from 11 November to 29 November 2024.
Wrong to link Yates 'smear' comments with training Gavin - Taoiseach
Meanwhile, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said comments made by Mr Yates that Fine Gael should run a smear campaign should not be linked with his training of Mr Gavin.
The two coalition partners are dealing with revelations that Mr Yates, a former Fine Gael minister and former broadcaster, provided around four hours of media training to Mr Gavin during the Presidential Election.
Fianna Fáil said this took place from 23 to 29 September and focused on preparing for interviews on two programmes.
Mr Martin said it is not accurate to conflate remarks Mr Yates made on broadcasts with his work for Fianna Fáil.
"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," he said.
Speaking on his way into Cabinet this morning, Mr Martin said there has been a "lack of balance and perspective" in discussions on the work Mr Yates has done for the Fianna Fáil party.
He said that all political parties use media training and consultants from time to time and Fianna Fáil was no different.
Mr Martin said that Mr Yates' work for the party in the European Election and the General Election was on the public record in SIPO filings.
He added that people should declare conflicts of interest and he said that was something everybody should reflect on.
"The intersection between politics, media, polling companies, pundits, commentators 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."
Newstalk said a review is under way 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".
Tánaiste 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 9 October 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, 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.
"I think there's also legitimate issues around transparency in media that I think broadcasters and the regulator in Coimisiún na Meáin 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."
Mr Yates is a former bookmaker, former-Fine Gael minister and broadcaster who was a co-host of the Path To Power political podcast.
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."
Additional reporting: PA
