LAST UPDATE | 3 hrs ago

TÁNAISTE AND FINE Gael leader Simon Harris has confirmed he spoke to Patrick O’Donovan on the phone shortly before the culture minister fell ill and was rushed to hospital.

Harris insisted the call was “routine” and stressed that he had not asked his party colleague to stand down as a minister.

Speculation has been rife in Leinster House over the events that immediately preceded O’Donovan taking ill as he hosted a meeting with EU telecommunications ministers in Limerick earlier this month.

Speaking on his return after paternity leave, Harris also denied to reporters on Wednesday that he had been responsible for anonymous briefings against O’Donovan in The Sunday Times earlier this month.

Pressed on whether he had asked the minister to consider his position on the call, Harris replied “absolutely not”, describing the suggestion as “bizarre” and “so far from reality”.

Harris added: “But the priority right now for everybody, most particularly for Patrick and his family, is him recovering and getting back to work as soon as possible in a way that works for him.”

The finance minister also said he was unhappy with the anonymous briefing and further said the phone call between him and O’Donovan before his hospitalisation was not a contentious conversation.

He confirmed that he spoke with O’Donovan in the aftermath of The Sunday Times report, on the Monday and Tuesday, as well as on the Wednesday. Harris was on paternity leave at the time. 

“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,” Harris said.

Fine Gael leader Simon Harris speaking to media on Wednesday morning Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie / RollingNews.ie

Earlier this month, O’Donovan was taken by ambulance to University Hospital Limerick after he became unwell at an informal meeting of EU presidency event at the University of Limerick.

Speaking to reporters at the same event, before his hospitalisation, O’Donovan hit out at quotes from anonymous government ministers about his health in the previous weekend’s Sunday papers, describing them as “hurtful” and “the ultimate betrayal”.

Asked whether he briefed the newspaper, Harris replied: “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. Patrick O’Donovan has my full support and confidence.” 

“I do think bringing a person’s health into public discourse in the manner in which it was, through an anonymous source, is something that I haven’t seen before,” O’Donovan had said at the EU presidency event.

The minister had returned to work in September after a period of illness over the summer.

Patrick O'Donovan and Simon Harris in a file photo RollingNews.ie RollingNews.ie

In July, O’Donovan, who has been open about his experience of living with epilepsy, became unwell and was hospitalised in Belgium before being flown back to Ireland on the government’s private jet a few days later.

Speaking on Wednesday to reporters, Harris denied allegations that he had been “silent” in the aftermath of the incident, arguing that it is “bizarre” to criticise him over not making statements while he was on paternity leave.

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

“I was with my newborn baby. I make absolutely no apology for taking paternity leave. None, none whatsoever. None. I’m back now.

“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,” Harris said, referring to a statement he issued from Fine Gael HQ while he was on paternity leave endorsing the media minister.

At a post cabinet briefing with the media this afternoon, when questioned whether Harris had spoken to any other ministers while he was on paternity leave, other than O’Donovan, a spokesperson for the Tánaiste said they would not be giving further comment beyond what Harris said earlier this morning. 

Harris’ spokesperson was also asked if they received any phone calls from the Tánaiste while he was on paternity leave, to which they replied: “No, I didn’t receive any phone calls.”

Questioned about what Harris spoke about with O’Donovan and his family in Limerick on Tuesday, and whether it related to matters beyond his health, the spokesperson refused to comment. 

With reporting from Christina Finn and PA