The Children's Minister Dr James Reilly has compared tobacco companies to schoolyard bullies – however he has said he will not be intimidated by their legal threats.

The Children's Minister has made it clear he will not be buckling to pressure to stop the introduction of plain packaging for cigarettes.

The Children's Minister James Reilly says a report into the death of a two-year-old boy is unlikely to be available until the criminal investigation is complete.

The Children's Minister Frances Fitzgerald has announced that €2.75m has been allocated to improve childcare facilities across Ireland.

The Children's Minister Barry Andrews is refusing to rule out cuts in child benefit, similar to those being introduced in the UK.

The Children's Minister has suggested the establishment of maternity centres of excellence in the wake of revelations about misdiagnosed miscarriages.

The Children's Minister says the HSE is to check whether there are more cases that could come under the scrutiny of an independent review into the deaths of children in its care over the past decade.

The Children's Minister Barry Andrews has denied that he tried to cover up a report into the death of an 18-year old mother of two who was in the care of the State.

The Children's Minister Barry Andrews has said private hostels used to house migrant children seeking asylum in Ireland will be closed next year.

The Children's Minister is welcoming the decision to clear the way for the publication of the report into child sex abuse in the Dublin Archdiocese.

The Children's Minister has asked the HSE to investigate the case of a department head at the Athlone Institute of Technology who resigned last week.