Ann McGarry
Occupation: Chief executive of the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland.
Personal/family: Married to Brian with three daughters Jennifer, Evelyn and Olivia.
What figure from the world of medicine or health do you most admire?
Marie Currie, who shared a Nobel Prize for physics in 1903, and later won one for chemistry.
What other career might you have chosen?
It's difficult to imagine studying anything other than physics, but with different choices, I might have ended up working in health or in industry.
If you could grant three wishes for the health service, what would they be?
Greater common understanding between the health services and citizens on what can and cannot be delivered in the health services. Ensure that quality of life is a key consideration in the design of services for older people and allocate more resources for health education, particularly for children.
What is your greatest fear?
My husband's driving.
Have you ever been a patient and were you a good one?
No, apart from when I had the girls and I think I was a reasonable patient at the time.
When or where are you happiest?
Relaxing on Sunday morning listening to the radio, reading the papers and chilling with the girls.
How do you cope with stress?
I find it helps to put things into perspective, so I remind myself how lucky I have been. If that fails I talk to my husband who reminds me of how lucky I am.
What is the trait you most admire in yourself?
My parents instilled in me the importance of honesty when dealing with people.
What is the trait you most dislike in yourself?
The school principal in me - I can be a bit bossy.
Do you use alternative or complementary medicine or therapies?
Not really, but I had a course of acupuncture for pain relief a while ago and I found it very helpful.
Who or what makes you laugh?
Faulty Towers has stood the test of time and it still makes me laugh.
What is your motto?
Do your best.
What is your favourite TV or radio programme?
I'm a news junkie, so I love Morning Ireland, The Last Word, The Right Hook and Prime Time.
What books would you bring to a desert island? Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights, Peter Hoeg's Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow and a teach-your self-Spanish textbook - something I've always meant to do but have never had the time.
In conversation with Fiona Tyrrell