Ivan Yates in case you have possibly missed him is a former Fine Gael minister and former country’s youngest TD turned bookie, stand in presenter on Newstalk and rent a mouth and paid guest speaker. (Really interesting site that – a speaker agency with mouths for hire.)

The rent a mouth part has reached epidemic proportions since the beginning of the recession perhaps because Ivan is both a former minister during previous recessionary times and is now a business person during this recession.

Last week on Tuesday he was on Ryan Tubridy, Wednesday he was on Today with Pat Kenny (nobody in RTE talks to each other obviously) and on Wednesday night he presented The Right Hook on Newstalk as George was away in Washington DC.

That is only last week.  Last night he was a guest on Nightly News with Vincent Browne. Have I missed any other appearances recently?

Which leads me to wonder – Are there no other former politicians or current business men and women who can take part in media discussions or indeed present programmes badly?