Health scan lifestyle Q&A

Simon Harris, Fine Gael, youngest member of the Dáil

Do you think you have a healthy lifestyle?

I think I’ve as healthy a lifestyle as anyone can in politics. With politics comes a lot of stress. While I don’t participate in any kind of organised exercise, I’m a good public transport user. I try to walk from my home to the Dart and from the Dart to the Dáil. I’m also making a very conscious effort to improve what I eat.

How often do you exercise?

I would walk on a daily basis, but I would try to get in longer walks, walks where I’m not just walking to get from A to B once a week. I live very near the Greystones to Bray cliff walk and I try to do that a couple of times a month.

Do you get your five a day?

I’d get quite close to it – I grab a bit of fruit in the morning and I tend to like my vegetables with my dinner. I’m a broccoli and carrot fan, and I like an apple during the course of the day.

Do you worry?

I think I do. With the job that I have, you tend to worry about various problems. Ways to counter worry that I find very effective are before going to sleep to make a list of the various bits and pieces I have to do for the coming day, and I also keep a very tight diary.

What do you do to relax?

I like reading. I read pretty much anything. I’m reading Jonathan Powell’s book, The New Machiavelli, at the moment. It’s about the political theories of Machiavelli and how Tony Blair applied them in modern politics. I also enjoy going to the cinema and spending time with my girlfriend.

What’s your unhealthiest habit?

I’m a junk food lover. I’m also a great fan of Chinese and traditional chip shop food. When I was contesting the general election, my constituency office in Bray was very close to a takeaway and it was all too easy to pop in and get something. I’m trying to get out of that habit now. At 24 years of age, you don’t want to be getting into bad lifestyle habits.

In conversation with JOANNE HUNT