A staunch supporter of Enda Kenny's during the failed attempt to depose him as leader, Paul Kehoe (43) remained as chief whip and was appointed Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach in March 2011. His loyalty has been steadfast. Last year, he described the Taoiseach as having an "abundance of energy and an appetite for leading this country" and said he hoped would Kenny would continue as Taoiseach "well after the next general election". A native of Enniscorthy, he was first appointed to the Dáil in 2002 and became Fine Gael chief whip two years later, having previously acted as assistant to the post. Kehoe has strong ties to Irish community organisations. A former chairman of Macra na Feirme, he won the Macra national leadership award in 2001. He has also acted as a youth officer with Fine Gael and the Wexford GAA and has been involved in the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann and the Irish Handicapped Children's Pilgrimage Trust. This was his fourth election. He is married to Brigid O'Connor.