In June 1997, he was nominated by the Taoiseach, John Bruton as member of the outgoing 20th Seanad, serving until the elections in August 1997 for the 21st Seanad.
Other reviewers have included John Bruton, former Prime Minister of Ireland and EU Ambassador to the United States, and senior EU officials such as Albrecht Rothacher and Martin Westlake.
When John Bruton resigned as leader of Fine Gael in January 2001, there was much speculation that Yates would be a contender for the vacant position.
Photos of the paramilitary display at Doherty's funeral appeared in Irish newspapers causing John Bruton, the leader of opposition party Fine Gael, to criticise the government during a debate in Dáil Éireann.
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