The Law Society of Ireland has congratulated the Minister for Justice and Equality, Helen McEntee, on the birth of her baby boy earlier this week.

President James Cahill said: “It is with warm congratulations that we send our best wishes to Minister Helen McEntee and her husband, Paul Hickey, on the birth of their baby boy.”

Mr Cahill said that, as the first Cabinet minister to take maternity leave while in office, she had paved the way for future leaders, and highlighted issues of equality and barriers still being faced by many serving in public office.

Minister McEntee had a baby boy in the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin on Wednesday night, a day after beginning maternity leave in another historic first.

Maternity leave 

She will remain on maternity leave for six months, with Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys stepping in to take control of the justice brief.

Hildegarde Naughton, a minister of state in the Department of Transport, will move to Justice to work with law reform minister James Browne, in order to ensure a share the workload.

There is no formal mechanism for Cabinet ministers to take maternity leave. During this period, Minister McEntee will remain a member of the Government, without portfolio, before resuming her role as Minister for Justice on 1 November.