The new Minister of State for Tourism and Sport is Patrick O’Donovan, the 39 year old Fine Gael TD for Limerick County who was re-elected to the Dáil for a second term in the 2016 General Election.
O’Donovan is an accomplished communicator with his own up to date website and social media. He also produced an annual report at the end of last year looking back on the achievements he had delivered for his constituency.
That commitment to deliver will stand him in good stead within his new role as he takes over the reins from his predecessor Michael Ring, who is moving to become Minister of State with responsibility to Regional Economic Development.
One of O’Donovan’s most recent public engagements was at the opening of new facilities at Ballylanders GAA Club in Limerick where he met with GAA President Aoghán O’Fearghail.
His return to the Dáil after the election was marked by a photograph of him holding his 16 month old son aloft in a Limerick GAA jersey so as a parent and a fan his heart is in the right place with regard to sport.
Among the items waiting for him when he enters his new office on Kildare Street later today will be the draft of the new National Sports policy, an ongoing consideration of how the sport of Mixed Martial Arts can and will be governed, the final preparations for Olympic and Paralympic Games and the business end of bidding to host the Rugby World Cup in 2023.
He will be dividing his time across the Tourism portfolio as well and with numbers rising rapidly in terms of overseas visitors and economic impact it is to be hoped that sport will add to a halo effect around his term in office.
O’Donovan has been a rising star within the parliamentary party, sitting on a number of influential committees over the past five years. His ambition to rise further will be good in terms of turning the spotlight on sport at Government level and we look forward to seeing the fruits of his labour over the coming months and years.
