Ivan Yates to leave podcast after role in Jim Gavin debate preparation emerges

James Cox

Ivan Yates is to leave the hugely popular political podcast he co-hosts with Matt Cooper, Path to Power, after it emerged he had coached Fianna Fáil candidate Jim Gavin for the first presidential election debate.

Mr Yates, a former Fine Gael minister for agriculture, already went viral during the election campaign after he said he would advise his old party to "smear the bejaysus” out of Catherine Connolly, who went on to win the election comfortably.

The Irish Independent reported on Saturday that Mr Yates had coached Mr Gavin for the first presidential debate, but played a smaller role in the second debate.

His undeclared involvement presented problems for the creators of the Path to Power podcast, Today FM broadcaster Matt Cooper and NK Productions, owned by agent Noel Kelly.

In a statement issued to The Irish Times on Saturday afternoon, the two said they had “taken the decision to end Ivan’s role as co-host of Path To Power with immediate effect”.

“Neither Matt Cooper nor NK Productions were aware that Ivan was working on the campaign, and both believe that this information should have been shared with the audience of the podcast when the presidential election was being discussed.”

Mr Cooper said: "While we have always been aware of Ivan’s commercial activities, his decision not to advise us that he was actively engaged in the presidential election on behalf of one of the parties is disappointing.

“Had he shared that information with us, we would have made sure that our audience was aware of the matter when we were discussing the election."

Mr Yates had previously informed them he intended to leave the podcast in the new year.