The chair of the Oireachtas Media Committee has praised broadcaster Ivan Yates for agreeing to answer questions about his work as a media trainer for the Fianna Fáil presidential candidate Jim Gavin.
Mr Yates is due to appear at the committee on Wednesday evening. Representatives of Coimisiún na Meán are to appear at the committee separately earlier in the day.
The committee wants to discuss “challenges in the implementation of Coimisiún na Meán’s code of fairness, impartiality and objectivity in news and current affairs”.
In his opening statement, Mr Yates will say media training has been “a small element of my commercial activities over the past number of years” and training for politicians has been “even smaller. To be honest, I’m surprised at the level of surprise that my work in this area has generated.”
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The committee’s chairman, Labour TD Alan Kelly, told RTÉ radio’s Today with David McCullagh show that it was important to give everyone the opportunity to explain their position in relation to the crossover between politics and the media.
A number of companies had been invited to appear before the committee, he said.
“In fairness to Ivan Yates, I have to acknowledge this. He’s the only one who agreed to come in.”
While Mr Yates maintains that he did not break any rules, Mr Kelly said the Coimisiún na Meán rules were open to interpretation which was why the Oireachtas committee wanted to have the discussion.
“That shouldn’t be the way it is. It should be quite clear what the rules are from a regulatory process when it comes to broadcasting, when it comes to print. You have commentators who may work in this area who have articles week in, week out. There’s no declarations.
“We’ve also the whole issue of podcasts, which are completely unregulated. So all of this space needs to be nailed down.
“And what we’re doing today is we’re hearing from Ivan and obviously from the department and from Coimisiún na Meán in relation to their thoughts on this issue, before these changes are brought about,” he said.
“Because the rules have to be very clear as regards what is expected of those who work in the media, whatever form of media that is.
“The public needs to know the lens ... through which those who are commentating on politics, what their overall agenda and other interests are in politics.“
