Main causes of stress

I don't know if I suffer from stress. I don't wake up at night worrying about my work, if that's what you mean. I work very hard and then I am able to switch off. It's a very, very busy department and we meet daily crises, but we talk things through.

Criticism doesn't worry me at all. People are very entitled to a public service and entitled to complain if they feel they are not getting it.

I must say that elections have a stress of their own. There is only so much work you can do and only so many people you can get to. There's the stress of the ballot box opening and you are wondering do they still like you. No matter how much work you've done, the doubts still come into your soul and heart.

Coping with stress

I always adopt the Scarlett O'Hara syndrome - I switch off and say I'll think about it tomorrow.

I walk to work every morning and I find that great. It's about 20 to 25 minutes and it gets your mind thinking about things, and how you are going to take the next step. I worry away at problems until I get a resolution.

In the case of elections, I go along to see the ballot boxes being opened. Otherwise, you would only be at home, fretting.

The bigger picture

Two things are very important to me. The first is the fact that I have Enda [husband] at home and he's a rock of strength. I also have very good friends in Dublin and I see them often.

If you didn't have a partner or family who were there for you and thought uncritically of you, politics would be a very difficult life.

In conversation with Alison Healy