Harris denies heated O'Donovan call before minister fell ill in Limerick

A phone call before the minister fell ill

Tánaiste Simon Harris confirmed on Wednesday, 28 October 2026, that he had telephoned Patrick O'Donovan shortly before the Minister for Culture became unwell at an EU telecommunications ministers' meeting hosted in Limerick earlier in October. Speaking to reporters outside Government Buildings before a Cabinet meeting, Harris said he had spoken to O'Donovan on the Tuesday of that conference and rejected descriptions of the call as heated, calling it routine instead. He declined to say what was discussed, adding that he does not generally provide a call log of his conversations with colleagues. Harris said the way the exchange had been characterised was inaccurate and that he holds frequent conversations with all of his ministers.

“Conversations that I have with my ministers are private.”

Several newspapers reported that the call was fractious and came shortly after O'Donovan told reporters that commentary about his illness in The Sunday Times was the "ultimate betrayal". Asked whether he had asked the minister to consider his position, Harris answered that he had not, describing the suggestion as "bizarre" and "so far from reality". He also said he had not reprimanded O'Donovan over his remarks at the Limerick media briefing, though he would not comment on private conversations with ministers.

Anonymous briefings and the Fine Gael response

Anonymous briefings reported in The Sunday Times questioned whether O'Donovan's ill health would cost him his place in Cabinet. Harris said those briefings had caused hurt, and he denied being the source of them. He told reporters that he wanted to call out such comments, while acknowledging that it is never possible to detect every anonymous remark from a journalist.

“Clearly, it wasn't me, I'm the leader of Fine Gael, and I don't need to brief journalists to make things happen in my party.”

While on paternity leave, Harris issued a statement from Fine Gael headquarters offering support to O'Donovan and condemning the anonymous briefings as hurtful. He warned that such briefings would not be tolerated within the party. Harris said the party's executive council had endorsed that statement, and he confirmed that O'Donovan has his full support and confidence.

Paternity leave and budget scrutiny

Harris has just returned from a two-week period of paternity leave, and he faced questions on the O'Donovan affair when he spoke outside Government Buildings. He rejected the suggestion that he had been silent during that time, saying he had been with his newborn baby and made no apology for taking the leave. The events unfolded while Harris was also under scrutiny for how he handled a cut of €20 million to RTÉ's state funding, announced in the budget. Harris has not been asked to step back from his own role, and the affair has centred on the handling of O'Donovan's health and the briefings against him.

The minister's condition and return

O'Donovan was treated in University Hospital Limerick after falling ill, and the Irish Independent reported that he was in intensive care in the hospital earlier in October. The minister has spoken openly about being diagnosed with epilepsy. Harris said he had met O'Donovan and his family the previous evening, and he described the minister as recovering well. No timeline has been set for O'Donovan's return to work, which will depend on medical advice.

“Patrick is doing well. I look forward to welcoming Patrick back to work.”