Mary Hanafin appears to be enjoying the education portfolio hugely, writes Seán Flynn

Mary Hanafin met broadcaster Joe Duffy recently. He told her he could think of no other minister who had come to grips so speedily with a new brief.

Everyone in the education sector is equally struck by the new Minister's expertise, her enthusiasm and her good humour. Even in this notoriously fractious sector, there are few with a bad word.

Her office in Marlborough Street is ornate and spacious. A magnificent Waterford Crystal chandelier hangs from the ceiling. On the plush carpet there are two Dell computers owned by the Minister. Both store documents - including some education material - filed over the years.

You get the impression that this is Mary Hanafin's destiny: to be Minister for Education and Science. She has been steeped in education all her life. She taught Latin and French in Holy Faith, Skerries, Co Dublin, before taking an Irish and history post in Sion Hill, Blackrock. She appears to have been around for years. In fact, she was first elected only in 1997.

She has been a representative on the CDVEC, the governing authorities of DIT and NUI Maynooth, and the NUI senate.

She is passionate about education. There is a huge amount that is right about our education system, she says. As Minister, she is not interested in making change for change's sake. She is interested in the kind of practical changes that will improve things for pupils, teachers and parents. She wants to improve those things that need to be improved.

Shortly after her appointment, she was asked on RTÉ Radio about her vision for education. She would like, she said, to create a learning environment where teachers and pupils were happy and content.

At the time, she expected some flak for failing to deliver a more grandiose vision. Instead, people came up to her on the street and congratulated her. Ordinary folk, it seems, have had enough of the high-powered battles of recent years. They want the education minister to go back to basics.

Mary Hanafin comes to education at a time when the sector is in recovery mode after the bruising ASTI dispute and the turbulent Dempsey era.

The contrast between Mary Hanafin and Noel Dempsey is striking. In Christmas 2003, Dempsey sent inspectors into schools to check they were open during the new common school year. This action was resented hugely by teachers.

This Christmas, Hanafin sent a signed Christmas message to every primary and second-level school in the State. It read: "Thank-you for your commitment to education during the year."

Mary Hanafin is in the business of making the education service feel better about itself after some difficult years.

One senior figure says he cannot recall an education minister receiving such a positive welcome. "Hanafin is very bright, hugely articulate and very talented. She has the ability to bring people with her and to change things. She has the potential to make a huge impact on Irish education."