NEWSTALK FM HAS announced that Ivan Yates will present their drivetime show from the start of next month.

The show is currently hosted by Chris Donoghue and Sarah McInerney. Both are in talks about their roles within the Communicorp organisation, which owns Newstalk.

Yates and Donoghue had presented the station’s breakfast show until July 2016, when Yates quit. He had presented Newstalk Breakfast since 2009, taking a 16-month sabbatical in 2012/2013 when he moved to Wales to avail of the UK bankruptcy process.

Yates had been a Fine Gael TD for Wexford from 1981 to 2002, serving as Agriculture Minister from 1994 to 1997. His business, Celtic Bookmakers, was placed into receivership in 2011.

He returned in April to front a two-hour weekly show on Sundays.

Patricia Monahan, Managing Editor of Newstalk said:

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“Ivan Yates is one of Ireland’s foremost commentators and has a long history with the station. His brand of straight talking, opinion-led commentary will provide an engaging forum for listeners. This is an exciting time for the business as we continue to develop a brand of opinion-led content.

“We are currently in discussions with both Chris Donoghue and Sarah McInerney about alternative roles within the Communicorp Group.”

Yates will begin in the role on 4 September.