Limerick Minister Patrick O'Donovan's duties to be reassigned while he recovers
Tánaiste Simon Harris travelled to West Limerick on Tuesday to visit the minister
LIMERICK Minister Patrick O’Donovan’s duties will be reassigned to a colleague while he is on sick leave.
Enterprise Minister Peter Burke will be given Minister O’Donovan’s portfolios in Culture, Sport and Communications.
Minister Burke will continue to do his current role, doubling up on responsibilities.
Mr O’Donovan shared a statement this Monday, November 2, thanking “all of those who have been in touch in recent weeks and have wished me well in my recovery”.
“I am heartened by the support they have offered to me and my family at this time,” he continued.
"I want to particularly thank the Tánaiste for his consistent and ongoing support for me and for my work, which I look forward to returning to in due course.
"I want to thank Minister Burke for temporarily agreeing to assume my responsibilities in the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport."
Minister O’Donovan is currently recovering at home with the support of his family after he suffered a seizure while at a summit for European leaders in Limerick on October 13.
The minister, who has spoken openly about being diagnosed with epilepsy, was treated at University Hospital Limerick.
He will return to his department "as soon as new treatment has bedded down", his family said in a statement in the days after he fell ill.
During this period, Mr O'Donovan will remain a cabinet minister without a portfolio.
There is no timeline for his return to work following the medical emergency.
Tanaiste and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris travelled to West Limerick last Tuesday, October 27, to visit Mr O’Donovan. It was his first day back to work after paternity leave.
Speaking to media the following day, Mr Harris said he “met with Patrick last night and with his family”.
Mr Harris said on Thursday that Mr O’Donovan has his “full support” in how he runs his department, despite being at the centre of a number of controversies, most recently a fallout over cuts to RTÉ funding.
Shortly before becoming unwell in Limerick, Mr O’Donovan had criticised anonymous briefings from Government and party colleagues questioning whether his health would result in him losing his Cabinet position.
He had described those remarks as “hurtful” and the “ultimate in betrayal”.