Gardai are investigating an emailed threat made against Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan last week.
In the correspondence, from an individual who described himself as “known to gardai” and which appeared to come from an email address at a well-known motor dealership in Dublin, a man threatened to set fire to a coffin outside the Minister’s family home in Co Kilkenny.
It is understood the individual referred to the response time by a fire brigade to a recent house fire in his email.
The email was forwarded by officials in the department to An Garda.
A spokesman for the force said they could not comment on security arrangements for individuals.
Threats against members of the Government are extremely rare although a small number were made against Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Minister for Health Dr James Reilly during the abortion debate.