Minister Patrick O’Donovan returned to University Hospital Limerick

Minister for Communications, Media, Arts, Culture and Sport Patrick O’Donovan has been readmitted to University Hospital Limerick (UHL) after falling ill at his home.

The 49‑year‑old Fine Gael TD was rushed to the hospital on Thursday night and is being treated in a high‑dependency unit. This follows a previous admission less than a month ago, when he was taken to UHL after a medical emergency at a European Union Telecommunications Ministers meeting at the University of Limerick on 13 October.

O’Donovan has publicly spoken about his diagnosis of deep frontal lobe epilepsy, which has caused several collapses while performing his duties. A statement issued on 16 October on his Instagram account said his interdisciplinary team at UHL are working to ensure his return to the department once new treatment is established.

During his sick leave, Taoiseach Micheál Martin approved Fine Gael leader and Tánaiste Simon Harris’s request for Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke to assume O’Donovan’s portfolio until he makes a full recovery. Harris confirmed O’Donovan was consulted on the temporary arrangement.

Local representatives from the Municipal District of Newcastle West have sent a letter of support, noting O’Donovan’s former service on Limerick County Council before its amalgamation with Limerick City Council in 2014.

Source: Limerick Post. Photo: Atlantic Ambience / Pexels.