Star sign: TaurusFavourite restaurant anywhere: Mario's, Terenure

Desert island book: Amongst Women by John McGahern

Person you would most like to spend Easter with: William Trevor - his understanding of people's motives make him one of the greatest of 20th century writers

Person you would least like to share your Easter egg with: Kenneth Starr - because of his questionable investigative methods

Your most annoying habit: My children tell me it's when I say "we'll see"

Your most pleasing aspect: Being able to see the wood for the trees

Most useful classroom cliche: You're just expected to work to the best of your ability

Where will you be for the last New Year's Eve of the 20th century: Birthplace - Rosses, Co Donegal, with large extended family and friends

Most embarrassing incident of 1999: Addressing my son's girlfriend by his former girlfriend's name for over two hours and then being reminded of this

Favourite beverage: Red wine

Recurring nightmare: That failed Thatcherite policies will influence Irish education

Most enjoyable daydream: Minister Micheal Martin awarding a 20 per cent increase to teachers during my presidency

Favourite TV programme: Questions & Answers

Marks out of 10 for Micheal Martin: 10 out of 10 if he makes my daydream come true

Dream car: 88 DL Toyota Corolla, my late father's car which I still drive - it still smells of tobacco, dogs and hay, or any car in which the final repayment has been made

Your pet: A cat named Tiger

Who puts out the bins in your house: Whoever is last out of the house on bin day

Staff room memory: A surprise staff room party organised by my colleagues on a bleak February day, for my vice-presidency

Teen pin-up (whose poster was on your bedroom wall?): Didn't have posters on walls in Donegal in the Sixties - if we had it would have been Paul Newman

Classroom clobber, what do you wear to impress your students: Suits, I regard them as my school uniform as they save time in the morning

Your favourite feature this Year? I haven't read Hello this year

Why not? Because I changed hairdressers and they don't have it. I might change back to my old hairdresser.

Did you read the interview with Gerry Adams in Playboy: No

Favourite Shakespearean villain: Lady Macbeth - because she listened to the voice of conscience

Favourite exercise: I'm allergic to exercise

Dream holiday: I enjoy life so much that holidays are not a priority. My best holiday was on Nantucket island.

Who cleans the wok? It's still in the box since I received it as a wedding present in 1977

If you weren't a teacher, what would you be? A writer and/or politician

Computers - are you a nerd or a numbskull? Numbskull

In 20 words, what's wrong with school league tables? Students are not like sausage meat - they are not of uniform background, ability and motivation. School league tables don't recognise this.

Would you ban smoking in the staff room? Smoking is banned by law. I would also provide a room for smokers.

To Kill a Mockingbird, Lord of the Flies are all very well, what about something fresher for the kids? The Homesick Garden by Kate Cruise O'Brien