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# On a jet plane
Ivan Yates is leaving Newstalk
The station now has a big gap in its important breakfast slot.
IVAN YATES IS leaving Newstalk.
The breakfast presenter is due to exit the station on 1 July. He is also quitting his roles with TV3 and the Irish Independent.
The 56-year-old plans to leave the country and travel with his wife Deirdre.
Staff at Newstalk were told of his departure by their CEO Tim Collins in an email today. He said Yates’s total withdrawal from media commitments for the foreseeable future is due to personal reasons.
Details about programme schedules or replacements are expected to be announced at a later date.
In a statement issued by Newstalk, Yates said: “I began working at Newstalk seven years ago this month and have hugely enjoyed my time at the station.
My decision to step back from working in the media is a personal one and I remain a committed supporter of Independent Radio and Newstalk in particular.
“I will miss working in Newstalk’s innovative and creative environment and hope that I will have the opportunity to return at some stage in the future.”
The station added: “Newstalk would like to wish Ivan the very best and would like to thank him for his contribution to the station over the last three years.”
The former Fine Gael TD has presented Newstalk Breakfast since 2009. He took a 16-month sabbatical in 2012/2013 when he moved to Wales to avail of the UK bankruptcy process.
Earlier this year, AIB secured a €1.6 million judgement against Deirdre Yates.
More: This is what happened when Ivan Yates and two politicians walked into a bar
