Helen McEntee says she did not call Patrick O’Donovan before illness
Mr O’Donovan is believed to be in intensive care in hospital.
Helen McEntee has said she is not the senior Fine Gael figure who reportedly called Patrick O’Donovan before he took ill.
It is understood that Mr O’Donovan, the Culture Minister, was in intensive care in hospital after falling ill when he hosted EU Telecommunications ministers in Limerick earlier this month.
An ambulance was called and the Fine Gael minister was given treatment at University Hospital Limerick.
He has previously spoken about being diagnosed with epilepsy.
Asked about reports that Mr O’Donovan had received a phone call from a senior Fine Gael Figure before taking ill, Ms McEntee replied: “I can’t comment on, nor can I shed any light in terms of the question you’ve asked – and, you know, I wasn’t speaking to him at that time.”
Earlier, she said: “I just want to say very clearly I wish him well and have been engaging with him.”
The Fine Gael deputy leader said: “But obviously, it’s important for him to take time to recuperate with his family, and that’s the most important thing.
“He has the full support of all of his colleagues in Government and in Cabinet.”
Ms McEntee, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, was speaking at an event with EU Commissioner Maros Sefcovic and Canadian Minister for International Trade, Maninder Sidhu.