Minister McEntee takes maternity leave
HELEN McEntee has begun her maternity leave – and on her last day yesterday, the Justice Minister said she hopes this will mark a seismic change for female politicians.
The Fine Gael TD is due to have her first child – the gender of which she said she is keeping as a ‘surprise’ for herself – in the coming weeks.
She is set to be the first Cabinet minister to give birth during her term of office.
There was initial uncertainty about whether she would be able to take six months’ leave, as there are no legal provisions to allow TDs or ministers to take maternity leave.
However, it was later confirmed that Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys would be assigned responsibility for the Department of Justice tem
‘It’s really important for other women’
porarily between May 1 and October 31.
Ms McEntee will remain a minister without portfolio during her leave and will resume her ministry on November 1.
Speaking to reporters on her final day of work, Minister McEntee said she believes her maternity leave sets an important precedent for other women in politics.
‘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,’ she said. ‘Obviously, most importantly, what I hope to see in the future is that this won’t just apply to me, but that other ministers, other TDs, senators, councillors will be able to avail of maternity leave in a way that doesn’t currently exist.’
She said the Government is looking at legislative and constitutional reforms so elected officials can take maternity leave.