Simon Harris calls focus on phone call to Patrick O’Donovan ‘bizarre’

The Fine Gael leader said he was annoyed by anonymous briefing about the Limerick TD’s health but ruled out an investigation

Tánaiste Simon Harris speaking to media at Government Buildings in Dublin ahead of a Cabinet meeting. Picture: Brian Lawless/Press Association

Tánaiste Simon Harris has described the focus on a phone call he made to culture minister Patrick O’Donovan as “bizarre”.

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

Mr O’Donovan had criticised anonymous briefing in a Sunday newspaper that suggested Mr Harris would remove him from ministerial office over concerns about his health. Mr O’Donovan described the comments as “the ultimate betrayal”.

Speaking on Today With Claire Brock on RTÉ Radio on Thursday, Mr Harris said he had a “duty of care” to Mr O’Donovan as his party leader and denied that the phone call had been anything other than routine.

“I did speak to Patrick on Tuesday. I also spoke to Patrick on many other days. I speak to Patrick lots of days,” Mr Harris said, describing Mr O’Donovan as a good colleague and friend he had known for a considerable time. 

He said he had been on paternity leave for two weeks and, apart from issuing a statement in consultation with the minister’s family to convey Fine Gael’s best wishes, had been focused on other matters.

Harris says minister’s recovery is the priority

No timeline has been announced for the Limerick TD’s return to work, but Mr Harris said he was “doing well” and that the “priority now is is on his recovery, and I look forward to welcoming him back to government as soon as he is medically fit to do that”.

Mr Harris said he had been “annoyed” by the briefing about Mr O’Donovan’s health and that the minister had been “rightfully” hurt by it.

“I lead a party that is full of decent people,” Mr Harris said, adding that colleagues’ priority was Mr O’Donovan’s wellbeing. 

He said he had issued a statement while on paternity leave to make clear that Fine Gael supported the minister and hoped to welcome him back.

However, Mr Harris said he would not launch an investigation into the anonymous briefing.

“The parliamentary party is a very united team of people. They have each other's back. This was a comment that should not have been made. It was a comment that caused significant hurt to Patrick. It was a comment that annoyed me as the leader of Fine Gael, to see being made.” 

Mr Harris also denied that Mr O’Donovan had undertaken a “solo run” by allocating RTÉ €20m less in its budget than had originally been agreed.