Patrick O'Donovan (born 21 March 1977) is an Irish Fine Gael politician who has served as Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science since 2024. He previously served as a Minister of State from 2016 to 2024. He has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Limerick County constituency since 2016, and from 2011 to 2016 for the Limerick constituency.[1]
Patrick O'Donovan | |
|---|---|
 O'Donovan in 2020 | |
| Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science | |
| Assumed office 9 April 2024 | |
| Taoiseach | Simon Harris |
| Preceded by | Simon Harris |
| 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 | 21 March 1977 Limerick, Ireland |
| Political party | Fine Gael |
| Spouse |
Eileen Keary (m. 2014) |
| Children | 1 |
| Alma mater | |
| Website | patrickodonovan |
Early career
editHe was a member of Limerick County Council for the Newcastle West local electoral area from 2003 to 2011.[1][2]
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.[3][4]
Minister of State
editOn 19 May 2016, following the 2016 general election and the formation of minority Fine Gael government led by Enda Kenny, O'Donovan was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport with responsibility for Tourism and Sport.[5]
On 20 June 2017, following the appointment of Leo Varadkar as Taoiseach, he was appointed by the new government as Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and at the Department of Finance with responsibility for Public Procurement, Open Government and eGovernment.[6] In August 2017, he claimed in an interview with the Sunday Independent, that the Provisional IRA were responsible for the Dublin and Monaghan bombings.[7] Fine Gael declined to comment on the matter.[8]
On 1 July 2020, he was appointed by the new government formed after the 2020 general election led by Micheál Martin as Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, with responsibility for the Office of Public Works.[9]
In December 2022, following the appointment of Leo Varadkar as taoiseach, he was re-appointed to the same post, as well as the post of Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media with special responsibility for the Gaeltacht.[10] On 29 June 2023 he was hospitalised after collapsing in the chamber of Dáil Éireann.[11][12] Ten weeks later he had recovered sufficiently to resume his post.[13]
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
editOn 9 April 2024, O'Donovan was appointed as Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science following the appointment of Simon Harris as Taoiseach.[14]
He was appointed by Fine Gael as director of elections for Daniel Butler in the 2024 Limerick mayoral election.[15]
References
edit- ^ a b "Patrick O'Donovan". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 16 October 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
- ^ "Patrick O'Donovan". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
- ^ "O'Donovan calls for crackdown on internet browsers and payment systems which facilitate illegal activity". Fine Gael website. Archived from the original on 15 January 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
- ^ "Down with This Sort of Thing: TD Calls for Crackdown on "Open Source Browsers"". technology.ie. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
- ^ "Appointment of Ministers of State – Dáil Éireann (32nd Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 19 May 2016. Archived from the original on 24 December 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
- ^ "Appointment of Members of Government and Ministers of State – Dáil Éireann (32nd Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 20 June 2017. Archived from the original on 23 December 2020. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
- ^ "FF voters are alarmed by talk of SF deal". Sunday Independent. Archived from the original on 25 September 2017. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
- ^ Halpin, Hayley (28 August 2017). "'It's ignorance': Sinn Féin calls for apology after junior minister blames party for Dublin-Monaghan bombing". TheJournal.ie. Archived from the original on 2 September 2017. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
- ^ "Appointment of Ministers and Ministers of State – Dáil Éireann (33rd Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 7 July 2020. Archived from the original on 9 July 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
- ^ "Minister of State appointments". gov.ie. Department of the Taoiseach. 21 December 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
- ^ "Limerick OPW Minister falls ill during questions in Dáil chamber". 29 June 2023.
- ^ "Minister brought to hospital after taking ill in Dáil". Business Post.
- ^ O'Regan, Donal (8 September 2023). "'I got a huge fright': Limerick TD resumes ministerial role after health scare". Limerick Leader. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
- ^ Pope, Conor (9 April 2024). "Cabinet reshuffle: Peter Burke and Patrick O'Donovan appointed Ministers, McEntee to remain in Justice". The Irish Times. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ O'Regan, Donal (24 April 2024). "Minister takes on role of election director for Limerick mayoral candidate". Limerick Leader.