The recently married independent TD, Thomas Gildea, is reflecting on the nature of relationships. However, in this case it is not the one which involves his new wife, Eilish, but rather his relationship, and that of three other Independent TDs, with the Government.
"The impression is given out that we are the type of people who grab people by the throat and demand things. But there is give and take. There has to be in a successful ongoing relationship like ours."
Sitting in his constituency office in the town of Ardara he is clearly content with the relationship and the benefits it has brought to his Donegal South West constituency. When added up, the money which he describes as being "in the bag" from the Government comes to over £31 million.
He says he has no doubt that these things have come the way of Donegal as a result of his support.
"As an Independent you could be in Dail Eireann all your life and never find yourself in the position I found myself. My supporters saw it as the practical way forward. I started to support the Government after the first 15 months because the numbers were such that they needed the support from another and I saw it as an opportunity to be able to derive more benefit for the constituency, because at the end of the day that is what it is all about."
As he speaks Mr Gildea (61) is twisting the gold wedding band on the finger of his left hand which has been there for less than a month. When asked about the other significant relationship in his life he prefers not to speak about his personal life. How long has he known his bride? "Some time, ah yes, we have indeed." Married life, he says, is "excellent" and confirms that they are building a home on his 30-acre farm near Glenties.
The marriage took place in great secrecy because of fears that the media would intrude. "I did think so. That's why we kept it totally secret. We wanted a bit of privacy on the day." Afterwards they honeymooned in Clare and Kerry and west Cork.
Back on more comfortable territory Mr Gildea reveals that it was he who was contacted by the Government, not the other way around, about his support. "I at all times had held back. They contacted me. I knew they needed me." He had a number of meetings with "senior people" when most of the groundwork was done, and then finally with the Taoiseach.
Mr Gildea did not want his agreement with Bertie Ahern in the form of a written document, and was prepared, for various reasons, to take the commitments on trust. "You can call it what you like. There is no written agreement as such. I would have a number of reasons for that: the other parties could find out through the Freedom of Information Act what I was looking for if it was in writing. Of course, you can never be 100 per cent sure of things but it doesn't take long to see how the trend is going."
In the 20 months since he became one of the Independent TDs supporting the Government, along with Harry Blaney, Mildred Fox and Jackie Healy-Rae, he says, the four of them have become close. "I suppose when we started we were four strangers. In more recent times we have become very close, and there is co-operation between the four of us. It is a question of all for one and one for all."
Before his election his had been one of the "safest" constituencies in the State for the two main parties and as a result, he says, was totally neglected. "The two major parties knew exactly what the electoral position was. Not only had they become complacent but they were also arrogant. I had never been involved in party politics before and that television-deflector issue was the one that changed this constituency from a safe one to a marginal."
Mr Gildea stood as a single-issue candidate on the issue of TV deflectors. This was also sorted out as a result of his decision to support the Government after what he describes as a prolonged period of difficult negotiations which eventually resulted in a licensing regime. The four Independent TDs, he says, can have a "major input" into legislation brought forward by the Government and they are kept informed of matters at the weekly meeting with the chief whip, Mr Seamus Brennan.
His view on those who have been speaking about the "dangers" of too many Independents in the Dail is that it is scaremongering by the political parties. "Generally speaking I have found the four Independents who support the present Government have always acted in a mature and responsible manner," he says, adding that he would like to see more Independents winning seats at the next general election.
A national newspaper recently highlighted the fact that Mr Gildea had not spoken in the Dail during the previous year and he was clearly annoyed at what he saw as inferences being drawn about his performance as a TD.
"I would detect a certain amount of animosity among the political correspondents against the four Independents, and I think the reason for it is that the four individuals in question are rural people from a rural background. Over the years I have seen public representatives speak a lot and it's all empty rhetoric as their constituency problems multiplied. I decided to work on the resolution of constituency problems rather than talking about them."
Speaking about the abortion issue he says he is reasonably happy with the way the situation is moving but wants a decision from the Government on a referendum as soon as possible. "But the practicalities and complexity of the issue are such that it is difficult. I know this sounds glib but I would like to see a properly worded referendum.
"That's where the whole thing ran into difficulties the last time. I would not take it upon myself at this point to give a definite wording. That takes great legal and constitutional expertise."
He thinks the Taoiseach is not in a position to put a definite timeframe on when the referendum will occur but feels he is being genuine in what he has told him.
"There is a lot of subtle use of language in this debate, and pro-abortionists talk about termination of pregnancy. Nowadays, where the mother may be ill or have serious complications in pregnancy, birth can be induced very early on - after 20 or 22 weeks - and the baby still has a very good chance of survival. Personally, I think that the mother should never be denied treatment where it is necessary and I think that is generally recognised as acceptable."
Negotiations are currently under way to ensure his continued support of the Government when the Dail resumes in October. He has a new shopping list for Bertie Ahern. Nothing on the list is outrageous, he says. In fact the total will be less than the last time because there is nothing as expensive as the £20 million being spent on developing Killybegs harbour.
"Being a practical type of person my aim would be to include projects that would be achievable. As far as I am concerned, as it has been for the past 22 months that I have been supporting the Government, the aim is to get what I can for my constituency in the months ahead and achieve what I can before a general election."