Helen McEntee returns as justice minister

Helen McEntee

She previously became the first Irish government minister to give birth in office when her first child was born in April 2021, after which she took six months’ maternity leave under a novel ad hoc arrangement.

Her second child was born in December 2022 and she again took six months’ maternity leave under the same arrangement, during which she was officially a minister without portfolio.

Simon Harris, who served as interim justice minister for most of Mrs McEntee’s period of leave, is now again exclusively focusing on his role as minister for further and higher education, research, innovation and science.

There is currently no formal provision for Cabinet members or members of the Oireachtas to take maternity leave — an issue which the government has indicated it will explore in future.

Any formal arrangements will however be constrained by the constitutional provision that there can be no more than 15 ministers in the Cabinet.