Dr Fin Breathnach: Title:Medical director and recently retired consultant paediatric oncologist in Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin.
Family/personal:Married to Carmel with four children: Fiona, Cormac, Cara and Colm.
Which living person do you most admire and why?
The people who have impressed me most in my professional life is the staff of Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin, who have, over many decades, consistently gone beyond the call of duty to deliver the highest standard of care in a holistic and nurturing environment to their child patients and their families.
What do you regard as the top three problems facing Ireland's health system?
Underfunding of primary care, the Americanisation of our hospital service with the inevitable development of a two-tier system (the public arm of which is poorly resourced), and, finally, the ham-fisted, non-inclusive and frankly dishonest manner in which the choice of location for a new children's hospital was made by the Health Service Executive.
Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?
Colin Farrell who, despite his public persona, is a real softie when it comes to sick children. I'd also invite Paul Newman and the staff at Barretstown Camp in Ballymore Eustace, Co Kildare. Paul set up the camp for children with life-threatening illnesses and the staff there delivers a programme of therapeutic recreation which restores confidence and self-esteem to these children who, through their illness, have lost their childhood.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Sailing around the Greek islands, clear blue skies, accompanied by those I love.
What is your greatest extravagance?
Early retirement.
What is your most unhealthy trait?
An inability to say no.
How do you relax?
Playing with my grandchildren, who continue to show me what I have missed, sailing in summertime, reading, gardening and, now that I have the time, golf.
What trait do you most value in your friends?
Honesty, loyalty and a good sense of humour.
What talent would you most like to have?
Being multilingual.
Do you use alternative/complementary medicines or therapies?
No.
What is your earliest memory?
Getting on a double-decker bus alone at three years of age in Cork and ending up in the Bridewell Garda station.
What do you treasure most?
My health and that of my family and friends.
What other career might you have chosen?
Rally driver.