No timeline for media minister Patrick O’Donovan’s return to work

Minister for Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport Patrick O'Donovan. Picture: Sam Boal/Collins Photos

There is no timeline for media minister Patrick O’Donovan’s return to work following his medical emergency in Limerick earlier this month.

While a Cabinet memo under Mr O’Donovan’s remit was brought to Wednesday’s meeting by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, it is unclear what other plans, if any, can be progressed in the minister’s absence.

A Government spokesman said that they were “not aware” of any memos signed off by Mr O’Donovan, nor of any plans to delegate any of his functions to other ministers.

Mr O’Donovan took ill at an EU telecommunications ministers meeting at the University of Limerick earlier this month. 

He spent several days in intensive care. 

The Fine Gael TD has openly spoken about his epilepsy diagnosis.

Tánaiste Simon Harris confirmed that there is no timeline for his return to work, saying that this will be dependent on medical advice.

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Cabinet signed off on a memo on Wednesday to draft legislation to increase An Post’s Statutory Borrowing Limit from its current level of just under €75m to €620m.

A Government spokesman said that the memo was brought by the Taoiseach, but that Mr O’Donovan had approved the increase before falling ill.

It then had to be approved by finance minister Mr Harris and public expenditure minister Jack Chambers.

He noted that there was an “urgency around getting it done before the end of the year”.

When asked if this meant the Government was planning based on Mr O’Donovan not returning before the end of the year, the Government spokesman, who speaks for Fine Gael ministers at Cabinet and acts as a spokesman for the Tánaiste, said that he was “not aware of any planning in that respect”.

He also said he was “not aware” of any other memos that had been signed off by the minister that could be brought to Cabinet in the minister’s absence, nor was he aware of discussions around delegating Mr O’Donovan’s powers to other ministers in his absence.

While the Department of Culture, Communication, and Sport is being run by its secretary general, Feargal Ó Coigligh, in Mr O’Donovan’s absence, secretaries general do not have the legal powers to attend Cabinet or sign off on large policy or financial decisions.

The Government spokesperson could not confirm whether there is any legislation or memos that need to be brought to Cabinet before the end of the year, referring reporters to the Department of Culture, Communication and Sports press office. 

However, due to the ongoing work-to-rule, it was not in a position to answer queries.

The Government spokesman could also not provide an update on whether Mr O’Donovan was still in hospital.

However, Mr Harris said on Wednesday morning that Mr O’Donovan was “recovering well”, adding that he had met with him and his family on Tuesday.

“I look forward to welcoming him back to work,” the Tánaiste added.

Mr Harris confirmed that he had phoned Mr O'Donovan at the EU telecommunications ministers' meeting, shortly before he took ill, but dismissed suggestions the call had been fractious.

He denied he had asked him to resign over his health, but would not divulge the nature of the conversation, indicating it was routine.

The Tánaiste's spokesman did not answer questions on what other ministers Mr Harris contacted while on paternity leave.