OLWYN ENRIGHT SPHERE OF INFLUENCE: POLITICS

THE Dail chamber is not a friendly place for either young people or for women. Neither grouping is well represented among the 166 members of the country's most exclusive . . . and middle-aged, male . . . club. So by that reckoning, 32-year old Olwyn Enright is a bit of an exclusive herself.

The Laois-Offaly TD faces into 2007 knowing she will be a big player in Fine Gael's campaign to replace Bertie Ahern with Enda Kenny at the general election in five months time. If Kenny is Taoiseach, a seat at the cabinet table will be found for Enright.

All will not be lost, however, should Kenny fail. In those circumstances, Enright will emerge as a senior player as her party regroups on the opposition benches.

Enright's father Tom, was a TD for Laois-Offaly from 1969 until his retirement in 1992. His daughter first hit the canvass at the age of ten. As a first-time Dail candidate in 2002, she won over 8,000 first-preference votes. The meltdown in Fine Gael support meant she was thrust early into front-line responsibilities as the party's spokeswoman on education. She faced a steep learning curve. But the Offaly woman has quite easily emerged as the quality pick for the halfdozen young deputies in Fine Gael. Other new . . . and young . . .

Fine Gael TDs such as John Deasy, Paul Keogh and Damien English have failed to deliver nationally for their party.

A qualified solicitor, Enright has sometimes struggled against education minister Mary Hanafin, but her commitment has always been evident. The hard work has paid dividends as she has grown steadily in confidence. She has energy and enthusiasm, which matched with obvious ability (and her age and gender) will make her a "must include" if Enda Kenny is picking ministers for a Fine Gael-led coalition in 2007.

When on the canvass in LaoisOffaly in May 2002, one man peered at the new candidate as she approached seeking his support. "I've been looking at you on the posters, " he told her, "You're a good-looking bird, all right." Five years on, the comments about Enright's good looks may still be heard, but now they'll be accompanied by a realisation that a future Fine Gael minister is asking for a vote.