Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has announced she is expecting her second child in December.
Last year, on the birth of her son Michael, the Fine Gael TD became the first ever cabinet minister to take maternity leave.
She announced her pregnancy on Monday on the social media site Instagram, posting a picture of her son wearing a t-shirt with the words “I’m going to be a big brother”. A caption read: “So Michael has some news to share”.
A spokesman for Ms McEntee confirmed that she would again take maternity leave.
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“The Minister and her husband Paul are very happy to be expecting their second child, due in December. Minister McEntee intends taking maternity leave to care for their baby,” he said.
Ms McEntee took six months maternity leave last year, agreeing a voting arrangement, known as a pairing, with Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns for the duration of her leave. During Ms McEntee’s absence, Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys took over the justice portfolio.
