Éamon Ó CuívPosition: Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
Age:56
Party:Fianna Fáil
Constituency:Galway West
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Political career:He returns to the Cabinet in his current job. First elected in 1982, he has been somewhat of a loner in Cabinet since he became a Minister in 2002. Dublin-born and raised but based in Connemara, he has been a champion of the Irish language, embroiled in controversy over the naming of Dingle/An Daingean and in the operation of legislation giving Irish equal status with English.
Immediate challenges:Gaeltacht boundaries, which he commissioned a report on but has not yet taken action on; working with the Minister for Education on teaching standards of Irish.