Padraig Flynn has always been difficult to ignore - and just as difficult to pigeonhole. The EU Social Affairs Commissioner has been a conspicuous figure, whether operating in Brussels, Dublin or his native Co Mayo. His rasping voice, height and perpetual high spirits have all contributed to making him one of the most visible politicians around.
But while he may be visible, he has proved no easy target for his opponents, even if his recent Late Late Show appearance was not the first time he said more than might be considered prudent.
His biggest previous gaffe was undoubtedly his outspoken personal attack on Mrs Mary Robinson during the 1990 presidential election campaign.
The anathemisation of Pee Flynn, as he is widely known, reached its high point with the Scrap Saturday show, which had the nation laughing at "Fred Flynnstone's" male-chauvinist stone-age attitudes.
Yet those who believed the caricature represented the man were confounded by his performance in Brussels, where he is regarded as anything but conservative.
His success in placing job-creation high on the agenda and his championing of the Social Chapter made him almost a hate figure for elements of the British Tory establishment.
Even on so-called "social issues" he seemed a new man, once sending out 300,000 Valentine's Day cards with condoms inside to promote a safe sex message.
Born in 1939, Mr Flynn had considerable ministerial experience before his selection for the EU post by the Fianna Fail-Labour government led by Albert Reynolds in 1992.
He was subsequently retained by the Rainbow coalition.
He was first appointed to the Cabinet as Minister for the Gaeltacht in 1982 and has served in Trade, Commerce and Tourism, Environment, Justice and Industry and Commerce. His daughter, Ms Beverley Cooper-Flynn, now holds a Mayo ail seat in the Dail.
