Ireland’s Minister for Arts, Culture, Communications, Media and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan, has been hospitalized in Brussels following a sudden illness. The Fine Gael TD fell ill on Tuesday evening, July 7, while attending official events related to Ireland’s current Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
A spokesperson for the Minister confirmed on Thursday that Mr. O’Donovan remains under close medical observation. The office has requested that privacy for the Minister and his family be respected at this time. Fine Gael leader Simon Harris has stated that he remains in direct contact with the family and expressed his support for the Minister’s recovery.
Mr. O’Donovan, who has represented the Limerick constituency since 2011, previously disclosed a diagnosis of epilepsy in 2025. He has been open about his condition, which includes photosensitivity, and the challenges it has presented during his public duties, including incidents in the Dáil. No further details regarding his current health status or the duration of his stay in the hospital have been released.