Ms Mary Hanafin, a former teacher at Sion Hill Dominican College in Blackrock, Co Dublin, won a Dail seat in the Dun Laoghaire constituency in the 1997 general election.
Born in Thurles, Co Tipperary in 1959, she is married to barrister Mr Eamon Leahy, who is an adviser to the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue.
Ms Hanafin has been honorary treasurer of Fianna Fail since 1993. She is the first of the crop of new Fianna Fail TDs who were elected in 1997 to secure ministerial promotion.
She is a daughter of Fianna Fail Senator Mr Des Hanafin, who is also president of the Pro-Life Campaign. Ms Hanafin has avoided being drawn into the abortion debate.