Minister for Arts, Culture, Communications, Media and Sport Patrick O’Donovan has been hospitalised in Belgium.

The Fine Gael TD was in Brussels for meetings as part of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the EU.

It has been revealed that the Limerick man fell ill on Tuesday evening and has since been hospitalised.

A spokeswoman for the Minister said: ‘I can confirm that the Minister became unwell in Brussels on Tuesday night and was taken to hospital.

‘He remains under close medical observation. I would ask you to respect his privacy and that of his family.’

Mr O’Donovan last year revealed that he has photosensitivity, which can translate into epilepsy.

At the time, he recalled the terror when he collapsed in a fit while speaking in Dáil Éireann in 2023.

A spokesperson for Fine Gael leader Simon Harris confirmed to The Journal that the Tánaiste remains ‘in close contact’ with Minister O’Donovan’s family.

They said: ‘His thoughts and those of the entire Fine Gael family are with Patrick and his family.’

The Newcastle West native served on Limerick County Council from 2003 to 2011 before being elected to Dáil Éireann for the first time in 2011.

From 2011 to 2016, he served the Limerick constituency, but has served the Limerick County constituency since.

During his time, he has served as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport; Finance; Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform; and Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.

Since January 2025, he has been Minister for Arts, Culture, Communications, Media and Sport.

The Limerick man has been married to Eileen Keary since 2014. They share three children.