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Justice Minister Helen McEntee tested positive for Covid-19.
Ms McEntee, who is pregnant, confirmed the news on Twitter, saying that she recently got tested and received a positive result.
She posted: “I was recently tested and tested positive for Covid-19.
“According to our HSE guidance, I am isolating myself. I continue to perform my duties working remotely, including assisting the cabinet.
“The information that the HSE has shows that pregnant women or their babies are not at increased risk if we contract Covid19.
“At the same time, I urge everyone to follow the public health advice and stay home.
“If you think you are developing symptoms however small, act like you have Covid.
“We all know the seriousness of the situation. We must protect our health system and the most vulnerable.”
It comes as Helen McEntee will become the first cabinet minister in history to take maternity leave.
McEntee recently announced that and her husband Paul are waiting.
Máire Geoghegan Quinn was a minister when she had a son while in office in the 1980s.
(Image: Julien Behal / PA Wire)
Today is likely to be one of the great events in the history of Ireland’s Third Blockade.
With the number of cases on the rise, and public health chiefs warning that a surge in deaths is inevitable this month, the government is frantically trying to keep up with a virus that is spreading through communities across the country.
The Cabinet is meeting today to discuss new measures for schools, construction and international travel, and the tough measures are expected to affect all three sectors.
The crackdown is likely to be the toughest we have seen since the dark days of March and April.
It comes after the Taoiseach warned yesterday about the dangers of having a million people “on the go” every day in and out of classrooms.
Micheal Martin hinted, however, that the government is unlikely to further reduce the already “restrictive” 5km travel ban.
This is what the Cabinet will discuss today:
Schools
Scheduled to restart next Monday after Christmas break, it now seems certain that schools will remain closed until the end of January at the earliest.
Education Minister Norma Foley is pushing to keep special schools open for those who need them, but most students are likely to learn from home in the coming weeks.
The closings mark a U-turn for a government that has insisted for months on the importance of face-to-face learning.
Building
Construction is scheduled to come to a temporary end based on proposals the Cabinet will approve today.
Non-essential construction must stop, but there will be exceptions for urgent repairs and social housing, it is understood.
Last night, a source told the Irish Mirror that the new measures would amount to a “reduction” in construction.
International travel
A long-standing controversial topic, international travel is another area set for new restrictions.
It is understood that all travelers arriving on our shores are now expected to produce a negative PCR test taken three days prior to arrival.
The measure marks an escalation of the measures already in place for those arriving in Ireland.
Extended ban on travel to the UK
While all overseas travel will now be subject to stricter regulations, the government will today agree to an extension of the travel ban from the UK.
It comes after ministers were reportedly told last night that 25% of recent positive cases in Ireland have occurred as a result of a new, more infectious variant that originated in the Irish Sea.
The passenger flight and ferry ban will also be extended to South Africa, the site of another highly infectious Covid-19 strain.
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