Fianna Fáil MEP Barry Cowen has confirmed that he had a health scare last weekend but is now recovering in St James's Hospital in Dublin.
In a statement, Mr Cowen said he first felt unwell at the European Parliament meeting in Strasbourg last week.
The symptoms persisted on his return home and he went to the emergency department at the Midlands Regional Hospital, Tullamore, on Saturday night.
He was then transferred to the cardiac unit at St James's Hospital on Sunday and he underwent a surgical procedure the following day.
Mr Cowen said that he hopes to return home "via Tullamore hospital over the weekend".
His constituency office, he said, "remain fully operational" amid his recovery.
"I will continue my recovery at home and will remain in close contact with my team as I carry out my duties as MEP for Midlands North-West," he added.
The Fianna Fáil MEP thanked the staff in both hospitals, adding that he is "hugely indebted to the professionalism and compassion" shown at the facilities.
