Government says O’Donovan was consulted on temporary portfolio transfer

Patrick O’Donovan was consulted before his ministerial responsibilities were temporarily assigned to Peter Burke, government spokespeople said on Tuesday, according to TheJournal.ie and RTÉ.

The arrangement allows Enterprise Minister Burke to carry out the Culture, Communications and Sport functions while O’Donovan recovers from illness. RTÉ reported that O’Donovan remains a Cabinet minister without portfolio.

TheJournal.ie reported that the Government distinguished consultation from the formal decision: Taoiseach Micheál Martin reassigned the functions following a request from Tánaiste Simon Harris. A spokesman for Harris said the timing of O’Donovan’s return would depend on medical advice.