Justice Minister Helen McEntee has become the first Cabinet minister in the history of the State to be pregnant while in office.
Ms McEntee announced on social media that she and her husband Paul Hickey are expecting their first child in the new year.
A spokesperson for Minister McEntee says she and Paul are delighted to be expecting their first child, which is due in May of next year.
In post on Facebook and Instagram, Minister McEntee said: "It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.... Last Christmas as a duo though".
Alongside a picture of two large Christmas stockings, and a third smaller boot, she wrote #babyonboard.
The Meath-East Deputy was appointed Minister for Justice in June 2020 - previously having served as Minister of State for European Affairs.
She was first elected to the Dáil in a 2013 by-election, filling the seat which had been held by her father Shane McEntee.
She married Paul Hickey, who previously worked as a parliamentary assistant for Joe McHugh, back in 2017.
Mr Hickey currently works for pharmaceutical firm Novartis.
