Tánaiste Simon Harris says he spoke by phone with Minister for Culture Patrick O’Donovan shortly before O’Donovan fell ill and was taken to hospital. Harris denies that the call was tense or “heated,” and presents the contact as a routine exchange ahead of the minister’s illness.
Multiple outlets report Harris’s confirmation that he was the senior minister on the line. Irish Examiner adds that Harris denies briefing a newspaper about the minister and says any decision on O’Donovan’s return would depend on medical advice. RTE and the Irish Independent both emphasize Harris’s denial of a heated phone call while also noting that the call occurred on the day O’Donovan fell ill.
Across the coverage, the core points remain consistent: Harris acknowledges the phone call, places it in the timeline before O’Donovan’s hospitalisation, and disputes claims about the nature of the exchange. Differences mainly relate to which alleged claims Harris addresses—such as resignations or media briefings—rather than to the basic facts of the illness timeline.
