Tánaiste Simon Harris has condemned the “direct threats” targeting his family that had been made on social media.
Gardaí are investigating the threats against the Fine Gael leader and his family which were allegedly made at the weekend.
In a statement on Monday, Mr Harris said as a father he had “very strong views and feelings” on the issue, while as a political leader he found it “unacceptable in every way”.
“Let me be clear: threatening people – any person – is a crime,” he said. “Threatening children is despicable. It is cowardice and it is a line that no decent society should tolerate being crossed.
“I will not be commenting further at this time on any ongoing Garda investigation.”
Asked about the latest threat, a Garda spokesperson said: “An Garda Síochána is currently investigating this matter.”
The Fine Gael leader has received threats before, including through social media and a phoned bomb threat.
Protests have also been held outside his home in Co Wicklow where his wife and children live.
In June 2024, an anonymous caller rang a Samaritans helpline and claimed there was an explosive device at the Harris family home. The alarm was immediately raised by the organisation.
Mr Harris, who was in the Dáil in the evening of the incident, said at the time the bomb hoax was intended to “intimidate and upset” his family, describing the events as an “unacceptable situation”.
“I don’t really wish to comment on it other than to say obviously this is clearly unacceptable situation. Even the word hoax I’m not sure is a fair word as I’ve no doubt these things are done to intimidate and upset. I have young children, I have a wife,” he said.
Such threats represented “a really unacceptable situation”, Mr Harris said, adding when masked people turn up outside his house it should not be described in media reports as a “protest”.