President of France Jacques Chirac congratulated Ireland on its presidency of the European Commission, saying that it was the "best presidency ever." Operations commenced on the Luas Green Line in Dublin. July–September 20 July – Minister for Finance, Charlie McCreevy, was appointed as Ireland's next European Commissioner. 7 August – Athlete Cathal Lombard was accused of taking performance-enhancing drugs at the Olympic Games. 13 August – Minister for Agriculture, Joe Walsh, announced his retirement from the Cabinet after seven years. He was the longest-serving agriculture minister in Europe. 27 August – Cian O'Connor won a gold medal for Ireland at the Olympic Games in Athens. 8 September – Former Taoiseach John Bruton was appointed EU Ambassador to the United States. 14 September – Mary McAleese announced her intention to run for a second term as President of Ireland. 29 September – Bertie Ahern reshuffled his cabinet. Michael Smith, Joe Walsh and Charlie McCreevy retired from the government. Brian Cowen became Minister for Finance and Dermot Ahern became Minister for Foreign Affairs. Mary Hanafin, Dick Roche, and Willie O'Dea joined the Cabinet table for the first time. Séamus Brennan was assigned to the position of Minister for Social and Family Affairs. Mary Coughlan becomes Ireland's first female Minister for Agriculture and Food. 30 September Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), Ian Paisley, made a historic first visit to Dublin for political talks with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. The Luas Red Line commenced operation from Tallaght to Connolly Station. 1 October – As nominations for presidential candidates closed, Mary McAleese was re-elected unopposed for a second term as President of Ireland. 2 October – Ireland's second national television channel, N2, reverted to its original name of RTÉ Two. 5 October – The Government issued an Irish passport to British hostage Ken Bigley in an effort to secure his release from his Iraqi captors. 16 October – Bertie Ahern held discussions with United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan in Dublin. 19 October – Dublin-born aid worker Margaret Hassan was kidnapped in Iraq. 1 November – The International Equestrian Federation confirmed that part of a B sample of "Waterford Crystal," the horse ridden by Olympic showjumping gold medallist Cian O'Connor, had been stolen in England. 3 November – Fran Rooney resigned as chief executive of the Football Association of Ireland. 9 November – Banned substances were confirmed in the B blood sample of the horse,