Helen McEntee will become the first Cabinet Minister in history to take maternity leave.
The Minister for Justice has had “discussions” with her fellow ministers at Cabinet about taking some time off to have her baby.
According to a Government spokesman: “There has been a tentative discussion around that.
“She has indicated that she intends to take some maternity leave.”
Ms McEntee announced at the weekend that and her husband Paul are expecting.
The Meath TD and Cabinet member will be the first senior minister to have a child while in office - if the Government survives to next summer of course.
Máire Geoghegan Quinn was a junior minister when she had a son while in office in the 80s.
Meanwhile, Holly Cairns has offered to cover for Helen McEntee when she is having her baby.
The Social Democrats TD has said she would like to ‘pair’ with the Minister for Justice to give her time to spend with her newborn next year.
Pairing is where two TDs from different parties in the Dáil agree to both abstain from voting when one of the TD’s can’t be there.
Ms Cairns was raising what she described as the “mad” situation where politicians are not entitled to maternity leave when she made the offer speaking to reporters at Leinster House.
All female politicians, TDs, Senators, MEPs and county councillors are expected to work right through their pregnancies.
And if they want to take time off they are expected to go on sick leave, which Ms Cairns said is “an insult.”
The Cork TD told the Irish Mirror that the lack of parental leave for politicians is proving a “barrier” to Irish women entering politics in the first place.
Ms Cairns paid tribute to Ms McEntee as someone she looks up to in Irish politics.
“One of the things I want to speak about is that Helen McEntee is expecting.
“First of all, I’d like to congratulate her.
“There’s an expression that you have to see it to be it and she always stood out for me in Irish politics, as a woman, and she’s leading the way again.
“And hopefully will be the first Cabinet minister to give birth and it’s great to see that.
“It’s really important I think for society to see it and I’m delighted for her.
“It’s mad that she’s the first member of Cabinet to give birth while in office.
“It’s even madder that there aren’t any provisions for maternity leave.”
Ms Cairns added: “There are 160 TDs in Leinster House and only 36 of them are women.
“That’s really ridiculous and this is an obvious glaring barrier.
“We can’t just scratch our heads every five years (after a general election) at this, something that proves such a huge barrier to female participation.”
