Tánaiste Simon Harris confirms he was the senior minister who spoke to Patrick O’Donovan – and denies heated phone call

Speculation has been rife in Leinster House over the events that immediately preceded O’Donovan taking ill at a recent EU presidency event in Limerick.

4 sources28 Oct 2026Updated 1m ago

Tánaiste Simon Harris confirms he was the senior minister who spoke to Patrick O’Donovan – and denies heated phone call

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The story so far

Simon Harris denies asking Patrick O'Donovan to resign in phone call earlier this month.
‘He is doing well’ – Tánaiste confirms he spoke to Patrick O’Donovan before EU Presidency event.
Tánaiste denies asking Patrick O’Donovan to resign after phone call before minister fell ill.

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Timeline

2h ago
Irish Independent (IE): ‘He is doing well’ – Tánaiste confirms he spoke to Patrick O’Donovan before EU Presidency event
2h ago
Irish Independent (IE): Tánaiste Simon Harris confirms he was the senior minister who spoke to Patrick O’Donovan – and denies heated phone call
2h ago
Irish Examiner: Simon Harris dismissed reports of a tense exchange, denied briefing a newspaper about the minister and said his return would depend on medic
1h ago
TheJournal.ie (IE): Speculation has been rife in Leinster House over the events that immediately preceded O’Donovan taking ill at a recent EU presidency event i