Okey doke: Cronyism ‘is the Ebola of Irish politics’

Former Fine Gael strategist and ex-Rehab chief executive Frank Flannery is to launch a new online politics show with his friend, sports broadcaster Bill O'Herlihy.

Mr Flannery said the new video and audio podcast - called ‘The Flannery Files’ - will be launched next Tuesday, with new episodes every week.

Speaking this afternoon, he said the forthcoming general election will be one of the most important in recent history, alongside 1977 and 1997, and the show would allow him have “some input into the debate”.

He resigned from his position as a senior party adviser earlier this year after details emerged about his lobbying for Rehab.

“I won’t be promoting a Fine Gael view,” Mr Flannery said. “I won’t be doing any propaganda but neither will there be sour grapes on my behalf either.”

In a promotional video posted on YouTube this afternoon, Mr Flannery says Fine Gael is seemingly intent on self destruction and claims "cronyism looks like the Ebola of Irish politics: incurable".

Mr Flannery also said the podcast is a “commercial venture”.