I was at the ceremony in 2004 and in 2005 and it's a glamorous night. A friendly person drove me to the red carpet in a fancy car and I nervously had my picture taken by an inordinate number of photographers who gathered outside. The awards themselves took ages to get through, and last year, I was freezing in the RDS by the end of the ceremony.

I thank my lucky stars that RTA did not see fit in the years that I was an attendee to broadcast an Iftas-style programme, which they did this year. Hearing the presenter and one of her interviewees discuss whether Gabriel Byrne was "a ride" and asking another if she was wearing any knickers under her dress was almost too much to bear.

But aside from the glamour, real or imagined, I do believe it's worth having an event that puts us on the international awards map and celebrates the work that people in the industry do.

So I was surprised to see that this year, the aftermath of the Iftas has descended into a 'handbags-at-dawn' row, instigated by my former colleague at TV3, Mark Cagney.

Mark's ire was raised by what he saw as the "rude, sneery and snide" treatment of both TV3 and Channel 6 by the organisers of the event and more pointedly, by RTA .

Mark said he thought the treatment of TV3 and Channel 6 was an absolute and utter disgrace. I have since been left pondering whether he is right and if the event is purely a vehicle for celebrating the work of RTA . After all, the bulk of Irish-made television programmes are produced by RTA . The event itself was broadcast on RTA and hosted by Ryan Tubridy, who is an RTA presenter.

But while I want to side with Mark, not least because I know him very well and would consider him a friend, on his substantive point, on this occasion, I just can't. If the Iftas were, as a TV3 spokesperson said, "sewn up by RTA , " why then did Mark win Television Personality of the Year last year?

Why indeed did I, as a TV3 presenter, win it the previous year?

TV3 was also concerned that it wasn't shortlisted in any of the other categories. There are 800 members of the Irish Film and Television Academy who vote in the various categories and who decide on the winners.

Unless I am very naA ve and there is a terribly sinister plot at work here, surely to goodness the system isn't infiltrated by a renegade RTA faction which bribes voters to make sure the state broadcaster walks away with the prizes?

RTA has responded to TV3's claims by saying that the judging panel for the Iftas was independent and although it broadcast the awards, the production was made by an independent company.

The mistake RTA may have made, and where Mark may have a point, was in opting this year for one of its own stablemates to present the ceremony.

Ryan Tubridy's skills as a talented presenter are not up for debate here, but having a non-RTA host in previous years was, perhaps, symbolic of the independence of the event. When Ryan made some unwarranted barbed comments about Mark Cagney as he introduced him onto the stage, it made it easier for detractors to argue that this looked like an RTA in-house job. Having the neutral James Nesbitt as the host in previous years just felt fairer.

It's a shame that TV3 did not pick up any awards on the night, because I believe that some of what it does should not be overlooked. Ireland AMmight be frowned upon by some of the more highbrow critics, but it has had a consistently growing audience over the last eight years. It has held its place in the breakfast television show market, despite the pressure of having to deliver three hours of television five days a week.

TV3 is also beginning to show more signs that it is committed to spending more money on home-produced programmes, with the excellent Diary of a Debutante showing great promise last year. But the fact of the matter is, the station didn't win anything at the Iftas.

I really hope that will change next year, not because the system is made fairer, but because they come up with the goods. I am determined to retain my faith in the Irish Film and Television Awards and think of them as a way to celebrate Ireland's ability to produce decent television and films. The winners should be allowed to celebrate and the not-so-lucky should just try, try again.

By the way and for the record, I spent the night of the Iftas hosting a black-tie ball in Enfield for the Marie Keating Foundation. I didn't have to borrow a dress and worry about ruining it all night. I didn't have the most horrific nerves before facing the baying cameras on the red carpet and I got to pore over the photographs of Rosanna Davison's bellybutton and Miriam O'Callaghan's impressive cleavage without having to blush in embarrassment when I saw myself in them.

And now I'm off to polish my IFTA.

Claire Byrne presents 'The Breakfast Show' with Ger Gilroy on Newstalk 106-108FM Monday to Friday 6.30am to 9am Nuala O'Faolain is on leave