Patrick O'Donovan | |
|---|---|
 O'Donovan in 2020 | |
| Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport | |
| Assumed office 23 January 2025 | |
| Taoiseach | |
| Preceded by | Catherine Martin |
| Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science | |
| In office 9 April 2024 – 23 January 2025 | |
| Taoiseach | Simon Harris |
| Preceded by | Simon Harris |
| Succeeded by | James Lawless |
| Minister of State | |
| 2022–2024 | Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media |
| 2017–2024 | Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform |
| 2017–2020 | Finance |
| 2016–2017 | Transport, Tourism and Sport |
| Teachta Dála | |
| Assumed office February 2016 | |
| Constituency | Limerick County |
| In office February 2011 – February 2016 | |
| Constituency | Limerick |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1977-03-21)21 March 1977 (age 48) Limerick, Ireland |
| Political party | Fine Gael |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | |
| Website | patrickodonovan |
Patrick O'Donovan (born 21 March 1977) is an IrishFine Gael politician who has served asMinister for Culture, Communications and Sport since January 2025. He previously served asMinister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science from 2024 to 2025 and aMinister of State from 2016 to 2024. He has been aTeachta Dála (TD) for theLimerick County constituency since 2016, and from 2011 to 2016 for theLimerick constituency.[1]
He was born and raised inNewcastle West, County Limerick. He has a degree in chemistry fromUniversity College Cork. After working as an analytical chemist and industry consultant, he returned to college obtaining a Graduate Diploma in Education fromMary Immaculate College, Limerick.[2] He later worked as a primary school teacher. In 2014, he married Eileen Keary; and they have three children.[2]
He was a member ofLimerick County Council for theNewcastle West local electoral area from 2003 to 2011.[1][3]
In January 2014, he called for "tougher controls on the use of open source internet browsers and payment systems" which he claimed allowed users to remain anonymous in the illegal trade of drugs, weapons and pornography.[4][5]
On 19 May 2016, following the2016 general election and the formation ofminority Fine Gael government led byEnda Kenny, O'Donovan was appointed asMinister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport with responsibility for Tourism and Sport.[6]
On 20 June 2017, following the appointment ofLeo Varadkar as Taoiseach, he was appointed by thenew government asMinister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform andat the Department of Finance with responsibility for Public Procurement, Open Government and eGovernment.[7] In August 2017, he claimed in an interview with theSunday Independent, that theProvisional IRA were responsible for theDublin and Monaghan bombings.[8] Fine Gael declined to comment on the matter.[9]
On 1 July 2020, he was appointed by thenew government formed after the2020 general election led byMicheál Martin as Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, with responsibility for theOffice of Public Works.[10]
In December 2022, following the appointment of Leo Varadkar as taoiseach, he was re-appointed to the same post, as well as the post ofMinister of State at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media with special responsibility for theGaeltacht.[11] On 29 June 2023 he was hospitalised after collapsing in the chamber of Dáil Éireann.[12][13] Ten weeks later he had recovered sufficiently to resume his post.[14] He later ascribed the incident to undiagnosedphotosensitive epilepsy.[15]
On 9 April 2024, O'Donovan was appointed asMinister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science following the appointment ofSimon Harris as Taoiseach.[16]
He was appointed by Fine Gael as director of elections for Daniel Butler in the2024 Limerick mayoral election.[17]
On 23 January 2025, O'Donovan was appointed asMinister for Culture, Communications and Sport in thegovernment led byMicheál Martin, following the2024 general election.[18]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport 2016–2017 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of State at the Department of Finance 2017–2020 | Succeeded by |
| Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform 2017–2024 | Succeeded by | |
| Preceded by | Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media 2022–2024 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science 2024–2025 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded byas Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media | Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport 2025–present | Incumbent |