Bertie Ahern is a popular "man of the people" prime minister

Described as a canny, no nonsense politician, he has had a successful career in a number of portfolios before taking over as party leader in November 1994.

Born on the north side of Dublin in 1951, Mr Ahern comes from a working class and politically active Dublin family. Two of his brothers are also involved in politics.

Mr Ahern would be best described as a political animal - spending most of his adult life involved in politics at different levels.

Married with two daughters, he split from his wife almost a decade ago. His new partner, Celia Larkin, has taken more of a central role in his public life since he became Taoiseach, or prime minister.

He has not divorced his wife and says he has no intention of doing so, despite divorce being made available in the Irish republic in recent years.

Bertie Ahern has served in a number of political roles - Lord Mayor of Dublin, chief whip, finance minister and minister for labour during the past 20 years. In the latter portfolio he was seen as particularly successful in handling delicate labour relations.

This negotiating ability was also to the fore in his work on Northern Ireland. He was centrally involved in negotiating the Good Friday Peace Agreement in Northern Ireland in 1998.

During his last five years in government as Taoiseach, he has overseen the revival of the Irish economy.

He is a popular prime minister who frequently enjoys a pint in his local pub. He is known as a keen sports fan and continues to cultivate a "man of the people" image.

During this term of office, there have been a number of scandals involving his party and fellow parliamentarians.

He has, however, remained unscathed from tribunals investigating payments to politicians, including allegations of bribery over planning permissions.

Mr Ahern remains popular with the electorate and his approval rating is currently standing at almost 70%.

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Michael Noonan - Fine Gael

Michael Noonan has been leader of Fine Gael, Ireland's second largest political party, since January 2001.

He was born in Limerick in the west of Ireland in 1943 and qualified as a teacher before entering politics.

This is Michael Noonan's first election as party leader

He was first elected as a member of parliament in 1981 and appointed minister for justice a year later. He has held a number of portfolios in both government and opposition, including energy, industry and commerce and health.

During his years in charge of the health department, there was much controversy over the treatment of a number of women who had contracted Hepatitis C from contaminated blood products.

His handling of this affair was not seen as caring or efficient, and it continues to haunt him in his political career.

He is recognised as a good parliamentary performer and has mastered the media role.

He challenged the former leader of the party, John Bruton for the leadership over a year ago and won. He claimed that the party's popularity was suffering under Mr Bruton's leadership, but under Mr Noonan the polls have also been bad news.

This is his first general election as party leader and many feel it is a task too far for the former teacher. Failure to secure a good showing at the polls would probably mean a short period as party leader.

He is married with five children.

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Ruairi Quinn - Labour

Ruairi Quinn has been the leader of Ireland's oldest political party, Labour, since late 1997. An architect by profession, he has been in politics for more than 20 years.

He has successfully overseen the amalgamation of the Labour party with the other socialist party, the Democratic Left.

Ruairi Quinn has held several ministerial portfolios

Mr Quinn has served in a rainbow coalition government as finance minister. He succeeded in convincing the Irish electorate that a Labour minister could manage the public purse.

It was during this time that Ireland fulfilled the criteria for entry to economic monetary union.

He studied at University College Dublin in the 1960s and was nicknamed 'Ho Chi Quinn' because of his radical politics. His style has somewhat changed since then and he is seen as a good political manager.

First elected to parliament in the late 1970s, he has held several portfolios including minister for enterprise and employment, labour and public service.

A solid performer and affable individual, he has however failed to shine in his role as party leader.

He married a former party worker after he divorced his first wife and they live in Dublin with one son. He also has a son and a daughter from his first marriage.

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Mary Harney's party has been in coalition government for five years

Ms Harney became leader of the party in October, 1993 taking over from founder leader, Des O'Malley. On doing so she became the first woman to lead a political party in Ireland.

She entered political life on the national stage at the age of 24 when she was appointed a senator in the upper house. Four years later she was elected as a member of the Dail (parliament).

Her party now has four seats and has been in coalition with Fianna Fail since 1997. She has held the post of Tanaiste (deputy prime minister) and minister for enterprise, trade and employment during that time.

A competent minister and skilled member of the house, her public speaking is one of her greatest strengths. She has performed well in her ministerial duties and has used her position to challenge her partners in government on a range of issues.

She argues that single party government is bad for the country and that her party's role has been as almost a government policeman.

She would describe herself as a liberal with a strong belief in the sovereignty of the individual. Seen as a tough, no nonsense political operator she is fighting for her party's survival at this general election.

Born in 1953, she was educated at Trinity College Dublin and worked as a research assistant before embarking on her political career.

She married Brian Geoghegan of the Irish Business and Employers Confederation in a secret civil ceremony earlier this year.

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