On Saturday, the story broke that broadcaster and former Fine Gael politician Ivan Yates had provided interview and debate coaching to Fianna Fáil presidential candidate Jim Gavin before he dropped out of the race.

This was at a time when he was co-presenting the political podcast Path to Power and doing stand in shifts on Newstalk radio.

The story gained momentum in the days that followed as news emerged that senior Fianna Fáil politicians, including Taoiseach Micheál Martin, also received media training from Mr Yates.

How has this steady trickle of revelations played out in Leinster House? What does this controversy tell us about the entanglement of Ireland’s media and political elites?

And how does the Irish media handle commercial and political conflicts of interest?

Today, on In The News, how Ivan Yates’ links to Fianna Fáil have landed him, and the party, in hot water.

Irish Times media columnist and host of Inside Politics podcast Hugh Linehan discusses the political fallout from this controversy and how it might impact public trust in the media.

Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Andrew McNair and Suzanne Brennan. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.