Date of birth: March 7th, 1950.

Background: Born in north Co Dublin. He worked for five years in ESB's transmission branch, became an active trade unionist and was elected to the executive of the ESB Officials Association in 1975.

In 1985, he became general secretary of the Postal Telecommunications Workers' Union, which merged with the Communications Union of Ireland to form the Communications Workers' Union in 1990. Begg was successively deputy general secretary and general secretary of the CWU.

1997-2001: Chief executive of Concern. 1986-1997: Member of ICTU executive and, from 19921997, member of its powerful general purposes committee. 1995 to present: Member of the board of the Central Bank.

Family: Married to Maire, they have three children.

Why he is in the news: He has just been appointed general secretary designate of ICTU. He takes over from Peter Cassells in July.