Irish Minister Patrick O Donovan remains in intensive care following medical emergency

Irish Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport Patrick O Donovan remains in intensive care after falling ill earlier this week, according to the Irish Examiner and the Irish Times. The Fine Gael politician became unwell on Tuesday during an informal meeting of European telecommunications ministers at the University of Limerick. An ambulance transported him to hospital, as reported by both outlets. [1][2][3][4][6]

The Irish Times reported that O Donovan is being treated in University Hospital Limerick. A planned press conference on Tuesday afternoon was cancelled after he became ill. Before falling ill, O Donovan had spoken out against anonymous briefings regarding his health, as reported by the Irish Examiner. [1][2]

As FTMQ News reported earlier, O Donovan accused party colleagues of betrayal over anonymous briefings about his medical condition. The Irish Examiner and the Irish Times both noted that O Donovan has been diagnosed with epilepsy. The Irish Times reported that he was diagnosed with the condition more than ten years ago. The same outlet added that he was also hospitalised after becoming unwell during an official trip to Brussels this summer. [1][2][9]

O Donovan has served as Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport since January 2025. He previously worked as Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science from 2024 to 2025, and served as a Minister of State from 2016 to 2024. He has been a Teachta Dála for the Limerick County constituency since 2016. [7]