Minister Patrick O'Donovan flown home on government jet after being hospitalised in Brussels

Minister Patrick O’Donovan’s recent hospitalisation in Brussels has led to his return to Ireland on the Government’s private jet, highlighting how work pressures are affecting senior officials. The aircraft departed the Irish Air Corps base at Casement Aerodrome in west Dublin at around 8pm on Friday, flew to Brussels, and left the Belgian capital about two hours later. A National Ambulance Service medic and a doctor were on board, according to the report. O’Donovan was taken to hospital on Tuesday night and remains under close medical observation, a spokeswoman said after questions from the Irish Daily Mail. The media minister has previously discussed being diagnosed with epilepsy in 2016 and collapsed in the Dáil in 2023. With Ireland’s EU presidency adding pressure, colleagues in Fine Gael are said to be concerned about his long-term health.