Factfile
Job: Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Progressive Democrat TD for Dublin South since 1992, previously a lawyer.
Married with two children (her husband is a Belfast Protestant).
Why in the news: much in evidence assisting/deputising for the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Andrews, at Northern talks.
In the seven months since Liz O'Donnell took up the post of Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs she has gone from being a completely unknown quantity in Northern Ireland to someone who has gained the somewhat reluctant respect of local politicians.
The Progressive Democrat TD has not escaped without making the odd slip. Last week as the talks were being held in London, she angered unionists by interpreting for the media overtures made by the Ulster Unionist, Mr Reg Empey, to Sinn Fein, putting more emphasis on the gesture than unionists liked.
Despite this incident, described by one unionist as an "annoyance" and "not the type of thing we need", it is probably a measure of her success that it is hard to find a Northern politician who has any serious criticism of her. In some quarters, in fact, there are even suggestions she is outshining her Minister.
As the junior Minister in the department, O'Donnell attends the multi-party talks at Stormont with Mr Andrews, and leads the Government delegation in his absence, which occurs quite frequently. She also has responsibility for overseas development assistance and human rights.
Before her appointment, O'Donnell was generally regarded in Dail circles as competent, if not outstanding. "She is certainly more than just a pretty face," said one acquaintance. She performed strongly as PD spokeswoman on justice when in opposition, but her party's very poor performance in last year's general election, with only four TDs elected, was a factor in gaining her the high-profile junior ministry.
In political life, she is used to success, never having lost an election. She was elected to Dublin City Council in 1991, and the following year won a Dail seat in the Dublin South constituency, which she held by an uncomfortably close margin in 1997.
The fact that she is married to a Belfast-born-and-educated Protestant and sends her two children, aged 10 and 12, to inter-denominational schools earns her some points with unionists. "She probably has a better understanding of our attitude than the average Dublin minister. She doesn't approach things from the same straightdown-the-line, Catholic, `green' approach," said one.
Born in Dublin in 1956, she studied law at Trinity College, where she met her husband, Michael Carson, now a successful senior counsel in Dublin. His father is the portrait artist, Taylor Carson, but, contrary to rumour, he is not related to Sir Edward Carson. The family left Belfast for Donegal many years ago.
After graduation O'Donnell worked in a legal office and took a five-year career break to have her children. She entered politics through the Women's Political Association, where Mary Harney spotted her potential. She has remained closely aligned to the PD leader ever since.
She is generally described by talks participants as pleasant, likeable and sincere, although some found her overly formal at first, especially when compared to the Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam. The most universal comment across the political parties is that she is "very much on top of her brief" and is a good listener. SDLP sources admit that initial fears about the politics of a Progressive Democrat have evaporated.
Women around the table report unionists as being less antagonistic to her than to Mr Andrews, although this may be due to his comments envisaging an all-Ireland body with powers "not unlike a government". She has learned to be very careful when choosing her words.
A member of a loyalist party said he felt she was making a positive contribution. "At least she seems to be listening intently to what is being said, when others around the table are looking up at the ceiling."
It is also agreed she is being allowed significantly more scope under Mr Andrews than was the case under the former minister, Mr Ray Burke. And there are rumblings that she is proving quicker and sharper at briefings than her senior colleague. However, one participant said it seemed the general policy of the Irish delegation at the table was "say nothing unless you have to".
A senior unionist said he felt that both O'Donnell and Mr Andrews lacked confidence at the talks. He said many unionists felt they didn't really know her at all because they dealt mainly with officials.
"I get the impression that she has something to say, but feels constrained, that she is afraid to express herself lest she might drop the ball. To an extent, both government sides are smothered by officials." He also acknowledged that everybody around the table was "tighter" and more cautious about what they said than during the Brooke talks of 1992.
O'Donnell strenuously denies being "smothered by officials", but says her main observation to date has been the need to be careful about language. She says she has had to tailor her instinct to express strong views, but that this is all part of being a minister. "It is very much a process which requires sensitivity in language."
The main obstacle to be overcome now, she says, is for the political parties "to move from their `maximalist' positions to a space where accommodation can be reached". The two governments need full engagement, and substantive dialogue is not something that can be forced.
O'Donnell adds: "They have to come forward now and move from their own positions. That really hasn't happened yet."