Minister Patrick O’Donovan in intensive care following medical emergency in Limerick

The Fine Gael minister was taken to hospital from a meeting of European telecommunications ministers after speaking out against anonymous briefings about his health

Patrick O’Donovan  became ill at an EU presidency event held at the University of Limerick earlier this week. Picture: PA

Media, sports and culture minister Patrick O’Donovan is continuing to receive treatment in an intensive care unit after falling ill earlier this week, it is understood.

Mr O’Donovan became ill at an EU presidency event held at the University of Limerick earlier this week.

The Fine Gael minister, who has been diagnosed with epilepsy, was taken by ambulance from a meeting of European telecommunications ministers to hospital.

It is understood that he remains in hospital and is receiving care in an intensive care unit.

The medical emergency happened just hours after Mr O’Donovan hit back at anonymous briefings from Fine Gael Cabinet ministers in national newspapers last weekend, which questioned whether his health could prevent him from remaining in Cabinet when ministers are reshuffled next November under the rotating Taoiseach agreement.

O’Donovan says health comments were ‘ultimate betrayal’

Speaking to reporters in Limerick on Tuesday, he described the comments as the “ultimate betrayal”.

“There still is a very ignorant group of people in this country who think it's OK to have a go at people because of their disability,” said Mr O’Donovan.

"I do think bringing a person's health into public discourse in the manner which it was, through an anonymous source, is something that I haven't seen before to be quite honest about it. It was quite hurtful and I have to say that."

He said he had spoken publicly about his epilepsy diagnosis “for a very good reason”, adding that he “didn't want to have a situation where when I did stutter, that someone might accuse me of, for instance, being drunk.

“So, when I read an anonymous source on the front page of a reputable Sunday newspaper last week calling into question my health, particularly given the fact that that source was attributed to my own party and particularly given the fact that we have done so much in the area of disability and inclusion,” Mr O’Donovan told reporters in Limerick.

He said he “did what I did” by going public with his health issues to show young people that “even if you have a disability or a neurological condition that you can work in Government and you can be part of Government, but it does require supports”.

“I thought not only was that commentary a slap in the face to me but it was also a also a slap in the face of the people who have to live with conditions far worse than mine and conditions far more difficult than mine.

“I have no difficulty what people think of me on a political basis – don’t get me wrong, I’ll hold my own with anybody, but leave my health out of it,” he added.

Minister says he has no intention of leaving Government

Mr O’Donovan said he would “gladly hand back the seal of office” if he believed he could not carry out his job as a Government minister.

“Some days are bad for me and other days are excruciating in terms of what my life is like,” he said, but added: “I have no notion of going anywhere.” 

A planned trip to Strasbourg last week was cancelled after Mr O’Donovan’s team decided he was not well enough to travel.

In July, he was hospitalised in Brussels for several days after falling ill at an event. He was later brought back to Ireland on the Government jet.

He also collapsed in the Dáil in 2023.