Tánaiste Simon Harris has confirmed that he was the last senior Government minister to speak to Patrick O’Donovan before he fell unwell but denies the conversation was heated. 

Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan was hospitalised earlier this month after falling unwell during an EU meeting. It later emerged that the Fine Gael TD had ‘suffered a seizure’. 

O’Donovan, who struggles with photosensitivity, had previously hit back against critics within his party who commented on his health. 

Following controversies surrounding his role in the budget, and a similar health incident in Brussels this summer, the TD suggested he had been questioned over whether his health situation made it suitable for him to remain in his role. 

A cabinet source from within Fine Gael was later quoted as saying there would very likely be a conversation in the near future about whether Mr O’Donovan was ‘well enough’ to stay in his role, with rumours suggesting the Tánaiste had already briefed against him. 

Now, Harris has revealed that he was the senior Government member who last spoke to O’Donovan before his most recent incident but stressed that it was a routine chat. 

Speaking after his return from paternity leave, the Fine Gael leader revealed: ‘I met with Patrick last night and with his family. And yes, I did speak to him on Tuesday during that conference. Conversations that I have with my ministers are private. The way I’ve seen them characterised is inaccurate. 

‘Patrick is doing well. I look forward to welcoming Patrick back to work. It was really good to be with him and with his family last week. 

‘I don’t generally, by the way, provide a call log. I have frequent conversations with all of my ministers. It’d be a bit bizarre if I didn’t.’ 

Harris also referenced claims that he had been ‘silent’ in the wake of the controversy, stressing that he had in fact been on paternity leave. 

‘I was on paternity leave. Quite frankly, I had better things to do last week than answer people’s queries.

‘I was with my newborn baby. I make absolutely no apology for taking paternity leave. None, none whatsoever. None. I’m back now. First day back, and I see Patrick, see his family.’ 

The Tánaiste later denied allegations made in the Sunday Times that he had anonymously briefed against Mr O’Donovan in the wake of him becoming unwell. 

He explained: ‘I also was annoyed with the briefing that had taken place in the Sunday Times, and I know that that had caused hurt, and I wanted to vocalise that as well, and I welcome the fact that our executive council has also endorsed my statement in relation to that.’