Patrick O’Donovan taken to hospital after falling ill in Limerick

Irish minister Patrick O’Donovan was taken to hospital for assessment and treatment after becoming unwell during an EU communications ministers’ meeting in Limerick on Tuesday, October 13, his spokesperson said. His condition and the outcome of the assessment were not disclosed. The Department said it would make no further comment at that time. O’Donovan, Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, was chairing an informal meeting at the University of Limerick when he became ill, according to the spokesperson. A planned press conference with him was cancelled. The spokesperson said he had been taken off site for assessment and treatment. The hospitalisation came hours after O’Donovan criticised an anonymous briefing questioning his health and suitability to remain in Cabinet. A report over the weekend attributed the comments to an unnamed Fine Gael minister. O’Donovan described the briefing as hurtful and a betrayal, and said he had no intention of leaving his position. He said he had spoken publicly about his epilepsy partly to prevent speech difficulties from being mistaken for drunkenness.