Key players in new look Cabinet

:: Ceann Comhairle John O’Donoghue, FF

The former Justice and Arts Minister won’t have a vote in the 30th Dáil and will be automatically returned to the 31st making it easier to return a second Fianna Fáil candidate in Kerry South.

In the past he embarrassingly issued a press statement congratulating Brian Kennedy on Ireland’s Eurovision win – the Belfast singer was in fact beaten by a thrash metal band from Finland.

:: Brian Cowen, FF

- Tánaiste and Minister for Finance

An avid Offaly GAA fan, at 24 he became one of the youngest ever members of the Dáil when elected in a by-election following the death of his father, Bernard.

After taking over the health portfolio in 1997 he famously said it was like Angola – full of unexploded mines.

With experience in Foreign Affairs and Finance, he is the front-runner to succeed Bertie Ahern as Fianna Fáil leader.

:: Dermot Ahern, FF

- Minister for Foreign Affairs

A former Ulster windsurfing champion and keen golfer, he was elected to the Dáil in 1987.

A native of Louth, he served as government chief whip under Charlie Haughey, before holding junior ministries in the Taoiseach’s Department and Defence.

He was appointed to the coveted Foreign Affairs post in 2004 and played a key role in restoring devolved government in the North.

:: Micheal Martin, FF

- Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

The son of former international boxer Paddy Martin, the Cork native was first elected to the Dáil in 1989 and has held posts in Education, Health and more recently Enterprise.

He is best known as the man behind the smoking ban legislation, which came into force in March 2004 despite tough opposition from publicans.

:: Noel Dempsey, FF

- Minister for Transport and the Marine

First elected to the Dáil in 1987, he was one of four Fianna Fáil TDs to propose a vote of no confidence in Charlie Haughey in 1991.

He has served in Environment, Education and Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.

His most difficult task to date has been to oversee the Corrib gas project in rural Mayo despite fierce opposition.

:: Willie O’Dea, FF

- Minister for Defence

A barrister and accountant, the 54-year-old has experience in Justice, Health and Defence and put himself up for an economic portfolio on the Late, Late Show.

He was criticised in late 2005 after being photographed pointing a pistol at a camera in the wake of a series of gangland murders.

After entering the Dáil in 1982, he joined the Gang of 22 opposing the late Charles Haughey’s leadership bid.

:: Seamus Brennan, FF

- Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism

First elected in 1981 in Dublin South, he was in front of the cameras almost every day of the election campaign and key to the coalition negotiations. The public see him as genuine and his peers regard him as a reliable mediator.

Once a staunch opponent of Charlie Haughey, he was widely tipped to leave the party with close friend Des O’Malley, but later made amends with the late Taoiseach.

:: Martin Cullen, FF

- Minister for Social and Family Affairs

A former wine company sales manager, he defected from the PDs to Fianna Fail in 1997.

As Environment Minister in 2002 he was responsible for the 15c plastic bag levy, widely viewed as one of the Government’s most successful environmental policies.

As Transport Minister he unveiled the €34bn Transport 21 plan pledging massive road building and public transport improvements nationwide.

:: Eamon O Cuiv, FF

- Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs

One of only two of de Valera’s grandchildren to go into politics, he controversially campaigned for a ’Yes’ vote in the first Nice referendum in 2001 but admitted voting ’No’.

A Dublin man representing Galway West, his Official Languages Act caused a furore last year as locals in Kerry revolted over the renaming of Dingle.

Wags soon dubbed it The Town Formerly Known As Dingle.

:: Mary Coughlan, FF

- Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

First elected for Donegal South-West in 1987, aged 21 and nine months, she was the third youngest TD ever.

A former social worker, the 42-year-old has experience in Social and Family Affairs and Arts and was the first woman to become Minister for Agriculture.

Regarded as enthusiastic, capable and charming, she dropped her guard when a farmer tried to call her bluff on milk issues. Her abrupt response: “Would you ever f*** off?” She later apologised.

:: Brian Lenihan, FF

- Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform

From the truest Fianna Fáil stock, the trained barrister took over a seat in Dublin-West after the death of his father, Brian in 1996.

His experience in Government has centred on children’s rights in Health, Education, Justice and became the first Minister for Children in 2005 allowing him into the Cabinet.

:: Mary Hanafin, FF

- Minister for Education and Science

A former teacher from Tipperary, she was one of nine Fianna Fáil national executive members to vote against the expulsion of PD founder Des O’Malley.

Elected to the Dáil in 1997, she is seen as an enthusiastic Education Minister and abandoned school league tables.

:: Mary Harney, PD

- Minister for Health and Children

A former Fianna Fáil TD she jumped ship when the Progressive Democrats were founded but stood down as leader last year.

Regarded as one of the most effective ministers to hold the Enterprise portfolio, she has retained much of that respect from government colleagues in Health even though critics slam the co-location policy.

:: John Gormley, Green

- Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Green Party chairman, negotiator, blogger, cyclist and the first TD to have an email address.

He stood firm in the infamous Rumble in Ranelagh squaring up to Michael McDowell who he subsequently beat in the polls.

A member of Amnesty and Earthwatch, he led the Anti-Smog campaign in the 1980s.

:: Eamon Ryan, Green

- Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

2007’s Magill TD of the Year and has a bit of business sense running two cycle stores in Dublin before entering the Dáil.

Surprisingly he put himself forward for the Presidency in 2004, but made a hasty withdrawal after Mary McAleese revealed her plans to stay.

Ambitious and an adept media performer, he is seen as a future leader of the Greens.

:: Tom Kitt, FF

- Chief Whip and Minister of State at the Department of Defence.

First elected to the Dáil in 1987, he has been re-elected on five successive occasions. In September 2004, he was appointed Minister of State at the Department of An Taoiseach with special responsibility as Government Chief Whip.

:: Dick Roche, FF

- Minister of State for European Affairs.

A Wexford native, he has held a Dáil Wicklow seat since 1987.

He has served as a junior minister in both the Department of the Taoiseach and Foreign Affairs, before being given the Environment portfolio in 2004.

But the polluted water supply in Galway has left him facing strong criticism from all sides.

:: Attorney General Paul Gallagher SC

The well-known member of the Bar is a familiar face in the Four Courts, appearing for a number of commercial cases.