We have an educated and cynical electorate.
I decided early on to be honest and trust people with the truth.
It's amazing that people were talking about me as a future leader back in 2011.
We always need to bear in mind that when it comes to blood transfusion, it's the person that's receiving the blood who takes the risk, not the person donating it.
I pledge as Taoiseach to use my office, for as long as I hold it, to advance the cause of LGBT rights, to press for marriage equality across Ireland, to speak up for LGBT rights around the world where they are under attack, and to push for the implementation of the sexual health strategy here at home at a time when it is more important than ever.
I don't think my election as Taoiseach actually made history - it just reflected it, reflected the enormous changes that had already occurred in our country.
I don't know why, but I've had an interest and passion for politics.
People need to trust what gardai say on the stand, and I can understand that perhaps in a scenario whereby lots of things are happening quickly and people are caught up in the heat of the moment, they may have a recollection that isn't exactly as things happened.
My instinct is to say it as I see it, being a little bit edgy and showing leadership on policy issues.
The idea that you could send agricultural products to Tokyo and Osaka and not pay tariffs, and you would have to pay tariffs sending them to Manchester, is quite hard to fathom in the modern world.
I see us very much at the heart of Europe. We are founding members of the single market; we are founding members of the euro.
An agreement is an agreement, and when you make it, you should stick to it.
The Government needs to be honest and straight with people.
We should advocate that the North should stay in the customs union and the single market and that any customs checks should be in the ports and airports, not on land borders.
There should be no economic border at all between the North and South.
Often, the people who speak loudest about republican values are the least when it comes to honouring them.
What I see around the world are movements around people like Macron in France and Trudeau in Canada.
What I am interested in are the philosophies of the future. That's what drives me.
I'd never be overly confident about anything.
