Fianna Fáil refuses to say how much was paid to Ivan Yates for media training for Niall Collins

The issue surrounding the employment of Ivan Yates by Fianna Fáil emerged in recent days, with confirmation coming from the party the broadcaster had trained Taoiseach Micheál Martin and other senior ministers. File picture: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie

Fianna Fáil has declined to say how much money from junior minister Niall Collins' special secretarial allowance in 2024 was spent on media consultancy with broadcaster Ivan Yates.

Information obtained through Freedom of Information says Mr Collins received a total of €42,700 through the special secretarial allowance in 2024.

The special secretarial allowance itself can be used by a TD to employ a parliamentary assistant. Alternatively, it can be used for a temporary vouched employee, or to contract out services such as PR, IT, secretarial services, or training.

It is up to the TD to decide how the money is spent.

The Irish Examiner understands that, in Mr Collins' case, the money was primarily used as consultant fees for the retention of Mr Yates for media training.

However, the party declined to say how much of the €42,700 was spent on fees to Mr Yates for this training.

Mr Collins himself admitted on Tuesday he received training from Mr Yates, speaking on Today FM’s The Last Word.

“Yates is one of many media coaches that I would have had the opportunity to avail of over the years,” Mr Collins said.

It’s no big deal and I think he’s actually a very, very fine media coach, and I have no hesitation in recommending him to anybody.

The Irish Examiner sought confirmation on Tuesday and Wednesday on the amount spent on Mr Yates training, but the party declined to provide the information.

Meanwhile, housing minister James Browne said he "sees no issue" with his receiving media training from Mr Yates, who is listed as a director of property development firm Ingram Homes.

In April this year, Mr Yates spoke to the Irish Times about the Water Rock Manor in Midleton, Co Cork, saying the appointment of a receiver to the builder of the site would not affect delivery of the homes.

Mr Browne's spokesperson said earlier this week he had received interview preparation training from Mr Yates since his appointment in January.

The spokesperson said Mr Yates had not advised on strategy or policy.

On Wednesday, Mr Browne reiterated this and said there was no discussion of housing policy between the two.

"Ivan Yates is a well-known media trainer. He's very good at what he does in terms of that media training. He never had any input in policy, no role in advising whatsoever. So I think in those circumstances...I don't see any particular issue with taking media training from somebody who was very much just focused on media training.

"I paid for the services of media training, and that's what I got. There was no role in advice, at advisory capacity or policy setting in any way, shape or form."

The issue surrounding the employment of Mr Yates by Fianna Fáil emerged in recent days, with confirmation coming from the party the broadcaster had trained Taoiseach Micheál Martin and other senior ministers.

Privately, the issue has divided Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael members, though senior sources on both sides insist it has not damaged relations between the coalition partners.

However, one senior Fine Gael figure said it was "not right" that Mr Martin had not publicly said Mr Yates had worked for his party when Ms Humphreys was answering questions on Mr Yates's comments.

One Fine Gael minister questioned whether Mr Yates would have contacted Fine Gael TDs, and then fed back information to Fianna Fáil through training sessions.