Ivan Perry
Occupation: Professor of public health, University College Cork.
Personal/family: Married to Dr Mary Cahill with three children: Margaret (15), Eoin (10) and Conor (5).
What figure from the world of medicine/health do you most admire? Dr Jane Wilde for her quietly inspirational leadership of the Institute for Public Health in Ireland.
What other career might you have chosen? Historian.
If you were appointed Minister for Health, what would be your first priority? I would prefer to be Minister for Finance as he has more influence on the health of the population. I would prioritise massive investment in pre-school and early primary education on health grounds.
Do you have a phobia/what is your greatest fear? Illness in my family.
Have you ever been a patient and were you a good one? Yes and average.
What three books would you bring to a desert island? Learning to Fall: The blessings of an imperfect life (Philip Simmons); Lincoln (Gore Vidal); The Reader (Bernhard Schlink).
Have you a fail-safe method of dealing with stress? Walking.
What is your favourite TV or radio programme? Tonight with Vincent Browne and The West Wing.
If you did not live in Ireland, where would you choose to spend the rest of your life? In France, trying to become a fluent French speaker.
Summarise yourself in 12 words. I would prefer to leave it at two: determined and optimistic.
Do you use alternative medicine/therapies? No.
Who or what makes you laugh? Mary and our children.
(In an interview with Dr Muiris Houston)