Michael Barry, Senior lecturer and consultant clinical pharmacologist at St James's Hospital and Trinity College Dublin. Clinical director of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics.
Personal/family: Married to Joanna with four children - Susannah, Rachel, David and Patrick.
What figure from the world of medicine or health do you most admire?
From the past I admire Robert Graves (1796-1853) for his classic paper on thyroid disease in 1835. From the present, all my consultant colleagues who deliver quality care on a daily basis sometimes in difficult circumstances. I admire Micheál Martin for his role in introducing the smoking ban.
What other career might you have chosen?
Professional footballer.
If you could grant three wishes for the health service, what would they be?
I would make sure that acutely ill patients admitted to the hospital setting would be treated with dignity whilst receiving quality care as opposed to lying on trolleys in one of those so-called lounges. I would ensure equality of access to health services with prioritisation based on medical need. Finally, I would insist that the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) delivers on its remit with improvements in information, quality and safety and health technology assessment.
What is your greatest fear?
Illness or an accident involving any of my family.
Have you ever been a patient and were you a good one?
Yes, I had my appendix removed years ago. I was a good patient then, but I'm not so sure about now.
When or where are you happiest?
At home with the family at the weekend. At the job, I am very fortunate to be working with great colleagues and friends at the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics and the National Medicines Information Centre.
How do you cope with stress?
To relax I head off to Rosscarberry, Co Cork, with my wife and children. A swim, a round of pitch and putt, a pint (or two if I win) in the evening at Nolan's - there's nothing better.
What is the trait you most admire in yourself ?
Decisive I think!
What is the trait you most dislike in yourself ?
Impatient and not a good loser.
Do you use alternative or complementary medicine or therapies?
Never.
Who or what makes you laugh?
The children and my dog.
What is your motto?
All things are possible.
What is your favourite TV or radio programme?
RTÉ's Primetime and Questions and Answers, and BBC's Newsnight when hosted by Jeremy Paxman.
What books would you bring to a desert island?
Alex Ferguson's Managing My Life. It's much more than a football book.