Justice Minister Helen McEntee gives birth to baby boy

Thu, 29 Apr, 2021 - 08:10

Louise Walsh and Greg Murphy

The Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, has given birth to a baby boy.

It is understood the new baby was born at 9.20pm last night.

Ms McEntee began her maternity leave on Wednesday of this week.

In the history of the State, this is the first time that a sitting Cabinet minister needed to take maternity leave.

The Meath East Fine Gael TD attended her final Cabinet meeting on Tuesday before becoming a ‘Minister without Portfolio’.

Minister Heather Humphreys has taken over the portfolio on a temporary basis.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin tweeted: “Congratulations @HMcEntee and Paul on the birth of your wonderful baby boy. A time of great joy for you all. Enjoy! Wishing you every happiness, always.”

Congratulations @HMcEntee and Paul on the birth of your wonderful baby boy.

A time of great joy for you all. Enjoy! Wishing you every happiness, always.
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) April 29, 2021

Ms Humphreys has also wished her well.

She tweeted: “It’s a good job we had the handover a few days early! So delighted for @HMcEntee

“A fantastic role model for young women. Helen might be the first serving Cabinet Minister to have a baby but she certainly won’t be the last!”

Ms McEntee made it clear that a permanent solution to allowing female politicians have families is needed and hoped it is not too long in being arrived at.

“It’s really important that women see other women in roles and positions being able to take maternity leave, being able to return to their jobs and return to the positions that they were working in before.

“Most importantly, what I hope to see in the future is that this won’t just apply to me but that other ministers, TDs, senators, councillors, will be able to avail of maternity leave,” she said.

“This is very much a sticking plaster, it’s not a long-term measure.”

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