Mr Ned O'Keeffe (59) has never been far from controversy during his political career. A farmer from Mitchelstown in Cork, he won his first Dail seat in 1982 in the four-seat constituency of Cork East.
As Fianna Fail director of elections in Cork East, he called on the party to withdraw from coalition with the Progressive Democrats in 1990. He accused the PDs of forcing Mr Charles Haughey to sack Mr Brian Lenihan and said several prominent party figures had actively campaigned for Mrs Mary Robinson instead of Mr Lenihan in the presidential election.
But it was an incident with RTE political correspondent Una Claffey in the Dail bar in 1991 which first threatened his departure from politics. Mr O'Keeffe apologised for the incident but claimed he had been the victim of a dirty tricks campaign from within Fianna Fail. He said he had little option but to resign.
Had he resigned, the Government would have been left with 82 seats, compared with the Opposition's 83. Mr Charles Haughey and Senator Sean Doherty persuaded Mr O'Keeffe to remain in politics. The Cork deputy topped the poll in the following general election.
The comedy film about a talking pig Babe earned Mr O'Keeffe the nickname "Babe" in 1995, after he issued a press release calling for a boycott of the film. He warned that pork consumption in the US had drastically fallen because viewers were being seduced by the loveable pig "in this ridiculous and harmful film".
Mr O'Keeffe comes from a very strong republican background. His father, Tom, was in the Old IRA and was active in the War of Independence.
Tom O'Keeffe remained a lifelong republican and allegedly never voted for his son because he had joined Fianna Fail.
On leaving school, Ned O'Keeffe went to Darra Agricultural College and took a diploma in social and rural science at UCC. He built up a substantial dairying and pig farm of about 200 acres near Mitchelstown but always hankered for a Cabinet post. After 15 years in politics, he became Minister of State with responsibility for Food in 1997.
He is seen as an old-style politician who goes to funerals and gets things done for his constituents. Because of this, he has built up a solid base in Cork and should be easily re-elected.
Despite the awkwardness involved, he was known for always visiting farmers who were picketing his own Department.
Mr O'Keeffe is married to Ann, and they have three sons and two daughters.