Justice Minister Helen McEntee has said that some people "don’t approve" of the fact that she has taken two stints of maternity leave.
It comes following reports in some newspapers that Fine Gael politicians have suggested she has fallen down the leadership ladder following her six months' leave.
Ms McEntee became the first female Cabinet minister to take maternity leave when she gave birth to her first child Michael in April 2021.
The Meath East TD and her husband Paul Hickey welcomed baby Vincent in December 2022.
Although ministers do not have a legal entitlement to take maternity leave, Ms McEntee took six months' leave on both occasions.
Special arrangements were made to make her a "minister without portfolio" while other ministers took over justice.
In weekend reports suggesting that Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s leadership is on the ropes, many Fine Gael politicians were reported as saying that Simon Harris was now the frontrunner. It was suggested that Ms McEntee had fallen out of favour as she had been off.
When asked about the comment outside Government Buildings, the Justice Minister said that she was entitled to leave and women need to be shown they can progress in their political careers and have a family.
"I’m sure there are people who don't approve of the fact that I took maternity leave for a second time," Ms McEntee said.
"I don't really have much to say to that. The same as any other woman, I should be entitled to take maternity leave insofar as possible, to go about my work, to come back to continue my job. That's exactly what I intend to do.
"I think it's a small minority of people [that have an issue], I'll be very honest.
"The vast majority of my colleagues, including the Taoiseach and many others, have been nothing but supportive and I can't stress that enough.
"Anybody who isn't, I think that's their own issue.
"Of course, we want more women in politics. I hope by myself and, indeed, many of my other colleagues since then, taking maternity leave, I hope it shows that it is a career for women.
"That it is a pathway that women can not just be a TD and progress and be a minister, but that you can actually continue to progress in your career while also having children.
"It's difficult. It's not straightforward and anybody who's working and has children, be it male or female, it's not straightforward. It's not easy.
"But at the same time, it's important to show that it can be done."
When asked if she had her eye on the leadership of Fine Gael, Ms McEntee said that she has "full confidence in Leo Varadkar not just as leader but as Taoiseach of this country".
She said that there was "no position available".
She added that while she has "never been shy in the fact that no matter what role I’m in [...] I’m very ambitious in what I do".
Asked if Mr Varadkar should be looking over his shoulder, Ms McEntee said, "Absolutely not".
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