ON THE COUCH:Grainne Murphy is a speech and language therapist with Down Syndrome Ireland
Family/personal:
I'm living in Waterford and I was educated in NUI, Galway.
Which living person do you most admire and why?
My brother Declan has Down syndrome. He has overcome much adversity in his life completing primary and secondary mainstream education and is now starting to study at Trinity College Dublin.
He is also going to represent Ireland at the World Down Syndrome swimming games in Portugal next month.
What do you regard as the top three problems facing Ireland's health system?
I think three main problems are the length of speech and language therapy waiting lists, unacceptable working hours for junior doctors and waste and inefficiency.
What is your greatest extravagance?
A coat from Millie B boutique in Limerick.
What is your most unhealthy habit?
Drinking Diet Coke.
How do you relax?
By walking.
Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?
Burma's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, Simon Cowell and rugby player Dave Wallace.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
A night out with my college friends in Galway.
What trait do you most value in your friends?
Honesty.
What talent would you most like to have?
I would like to be able to sing.
Do you use alternative/ complementary medicines or therapies?
No.
What is your earliest memory?
My earliest memory is my brother being born.
What is your most treasured possession?
My house.
What other career might you have chosen?
My brother has been a big influence on my career decisions - first in speech and language therapy and now in my role with Down Syndrome Ireland. If I was to have another career, it would be in law.
What books or films have inspired you?
Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time.
In conversation with Fiona Tyrrell