Heather Humphreys will take over her brief.
Minister Helen McEntee will step back from her position as Minister for Justice on April 30, 2021, in order to take a period of maternity leave.
On that date, the Taoiseach will assign Minister McEntee as Minister without Portfolio, which means the Minister will remain a member of the Government.
The Taoiseach will assign Minister Heather Humphreys to be Minister for Justice, in addition to her current responsibilities.
Minister McEntee, as Minister without Portfolio, will continue to be bound by her constitutional responsibilities as a Member of the Government.
While assigned as Minister without Portfolio, she will have no specific duties or responsibilities, or exercise any powers, in relation to the Department of Justice.
She will, however, in keeping with good practice during maternity leave, have the option of keeping in touch with Minister Humphreys on issues.
As Minister without Portfolio, Minister McEntee will be able to access all government papers, and be kept updated on ongoing work in respect of her former role and across government. However, the Minister without Portfolio would not commission work or take decisions in relation to the Department of Justice or the justice sector.
Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton will be temporarily assigned to the Department of Justice for the duration of Minster McEntee’s maternity leave and will be delegated responsibilities which will be proposed by Minister Humphreys and approved by government in the normal way.
Minister Naughton’s position as Minister of State for Justice will be in addition to her current position and responsibilities as a Minister of State attending Cabinet.
Minister Humphreys will also delegate additional responsibilities to James Browne, the current Minister of State for Law Reform in the Department of Justice.
Minister McEntee will be re-appointed Minister for Justice when her period of maternity leave ends on November 1st, 2021.
On that date, all functions temporarily delegated to the Ministers of State will return to Minister McEntee. The arrangement whereby Minister Naughton is temporarily assigned to the Department of Justice will stop.
By the end of June, the Citizen’s Assembly on Gender Equality will produce proposals for a long term solution on maternity, paternity and other types of leave for public representatives.
Minister Humphreys will have lead political responsibility for the Department of Justice, and in particular matters relating to security and policing. All commencement orders and statutory instruments will be submitted for approval and signature to Minister Humphreys, along with all security related matters.
Minister Humphreys will bring to Cabinet all proposed judicial appointments.
As Minister of State attending Cabinet, Minister Naughton will be appointed Minister of State for Justice, with responsibility for the courts and criminal justice legislation.
Minister Naughton will have responsibility for all proposed non-judicial appointments, along with annual reports from agencies and bodies in the criminal justice sector, and most legislation relating to the criminal justice sector, including responding to Private Members’ Bills. Minister Naughton will also be responsible for considering the recommendations of the Parole Board.
In addition to his previously agreed delegated functions, Minister Browne will temporarily take expanded responsibilities in relation to civil justice and immigration matters.
This will include annual reports from agencies and bodies in the civil justice sector, and most legislation relating to the civil justice sector, including responding to Private Member’s Bills.
All these temporary arrangements will cease on November 1st, 2021, when Minister McEntee returns from maternity leave.
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