Media minister Patrick O'Donovan hospitalised in Brussels

The Limerick TD became unwell after attending meetings in Belgium

Minister Patrick O'Donovan was in Brussels when he became unwell and was hospitalised. Pic Arthur Ellis

Media minister Patrick O'Donovan is under "close medical supervision" in a Belgian hospital.

A spokesperson today confirmed that Mr O'Donovan had become unwell while attending meetings in Brussels.

The spokeswoman said: "I can confirm that the minister became unwell in Brussels on Tuesday night and was taken to hospital. He remains under close medical observation. I would ask you to respect his privacy and that of his family. There will be no further comment at this time."

Mr O'Donovan has previously spoken about his health and epilepsy, telling the Irish Examiner earlier this year that he was initially diagnosed with epilepsy over a decade ago. Mr O’Donovan added that doctors continuously “disputed” this.

But, after collapsing in the Dáil in June 2023, he was admitted to the monitoring unit in Beaumont Hospital, where his neurologist diagnosed him with deep frontal lobe epilepsy.

On the day he got his diagnosis, it felt like “the bottom had fallen out of my world”.