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“It’s interesting that some organisations have decided to keep their analysis just to the period of the presidential election," Mr Harris said. "I think it’s now very clear that the issue goes beyond the presidential election but that’s a matter for others and I don’t wish to comment on it.” On Monday, it was confirmed that Mr Martin and other senior ministers in Fianna Fáil received media training from Mr Yates. The broadcaster and former Fine Gael agriculture minister, was dropped from the Path to Power podcast over revelations surrounding his work for Fianna Fáil, with Newstalk also confirming it is reviewing his contributions on the station in the run-up to the presidential election. Coimisiún na Meán confirmed it would be seeking information from both RTÉ and Newstalk about Mr Yates's contributions during the election. Mr Harris said he was frustrated with how the media questioned the Fine Gael presidential candidate Heather Humphreys about links to Mr Yates when he had worked with the Fianna Fáil candidate. Fianna Fáil confirmed Jim Gavin received two training sessions with Mr Yates, providing him with preparation for TV interviews and debates. “It’s now quite clear, not only was he not advising Fine Gael, he was being paid for by another party,” Mr Harris said. “But the presidential election has happened. President-elect Connolly will be inaugurated next week. "It’s interesting, all these bits of information will come into the public domain after the election campaign.” Mr Harris added that it was an internal Fianna Fáil issue and it is an issue for that party “who they decide to be trained by”. Mr Martin said there had been a lack of balance and perspective on how the Yates issue had been treated. “All political parties use media training from time to time, Fianna Fáil is no different to any other political party in that respect. "Indeed Ivan Yates worked for the party in the European elections and in the general election.” Mr Martin said it was “no secret” and that Fianna Fáil would have disclosed it as part of Sipo returns. “I would take issue with some attempts to conflate the fact that he worked four hours with Jim Gavin and subsequent remarks he made in respect of the presidential, that had nothing to do with Fianna Fáil and we wouldn’t approve of.” Mr Martin said the intersection between media, politics, polling companies, and pundits is a “very fluid one”. 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 that it was "not right" that Mr Martin had not publicly said that Mr Yates had worked for his party when Ms Humphreys was answering questions on Mr Yates's comments.
