Minister Peter Burke hospitalised after falling ill in the Seanad

A local TD was hospitalised this evening after falling ill while speaking in the Seanad.

According to reports in the national media, Minister of State Peter Burke was addressing the Seanad on the water environment abstractions bill when he asked to take a break.

A report on the Irish Examiner website says that Minister Burke was tended to by a consultant in respiratory medicine who was part a group of consultants who were in Leinster House to give a briefing on COPD.

An ambulance was called and Minister Burke was taken to hospital as a precaution, a Fine Gael spokesperson said earlier this evening.