#
It was great to get the opportunity to speak with the Minister of State for European Affairs Helen McEntee in a week where one of the most important national issues of the last 50 years is being debated in Ireland, the UK, and across Europe.
Minister McEntee has held the European Affairs portfolio since 2017 a big part of which placed her at the center of the EU negotiations around the Withdrawal Agreement.
In this episode, Minister McEntee reflects on her early days in politics, being a woman in politics, her thoughts on being both European and Irish, her future in politics, and of course ?Brexit.
2.15 Early years
Minister McEntee�s farming background
Coming from a family of strong women
Community and activism exposure in her childhood helped shape her approach in life
Early days in politics
5.48 Being a woman in politics
Dealing with the age bias when first elected
Thoughts on gender quotas
This importance of �Creating an environment where its normal and acceptable for women to be in politics�
Making politics more accessible for women
Inspiring younger women to get involved in politics
Women in politics who inspire Minister McEntee
10.32 Her work on Mental Health
Thoughts on how Ireland is progressing in relation to raising awareness on mental health issues
15.57 On Europe and being European
Thoughts on being both Irish and European
The importance of being European today
Thoughts on why Irish people have such a positive image of the EU
20.25 The EU
The importance of Ireland�s strong relationship with its European colleagues
Upcoming European elections
Challenges ahead for the European Parliament
The importance of pro-European voting today
The various EU working groups and Minister McEntee�s involvement in each of these
Building alliances with other members states in the wake of the UK�s withdrawal, Ireland�s closest ally
Thoughts on �corridor consultation� in Brussels
Ireland�s pro-enlargement stance in the EU and the need to provide support to countries looking to join the EU
Thoughts on Turkey�s planned accession to the EU �I don�t think we should be progressing until the human rights issues are addressed�
33.28 Brexit
The difficulty in predicting what will happen next
It is time for the House of Commons to figure out what it wants �We are negotiating and engaging with a parliament that still doesn�t know what it wants�
Preparations are well under way for Brexit, but there is only so much that could be done until a definite outcome is known
The impact of a no-deal on the Irish economy, the stark negative economic predictions
Impact on business in Ireland � the importance for businesses to look at their markets, supply chain and legal structures in preparation for Brexit; �Anybody who hasn�t been looking at their business before this, they are now�
41.40 Challenges facing the EU
The difficult issue of migration and Ireland showing solidarity and support
Climate change, the importance of Europe coming together to tackle the issue. Ireland needs to do more
43.40 Work life balance the thoughts on her future
The importance of her team around her
Taking personal time when possible
Her love for football in Meath
Thoughts on her future in politics
Follow the podcast
The 1% Podcast brings together the 3Ps of People, Professions and Performance. We chat to top-class performers from eclectic areas (sport, business, politics, art etc.) to extract the tactics, tools and routines you can use to get 1% better and achieve success.
![](data:image/svg+xml,<svg display="block" role="presentation" viewBox="0 0 24 24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M 18.914 8.181 C 18.774 8.291 16.316 9.675 16.316 12.754 C 16.316 16.316 19.443 17.576 19.536 17.607 C 19.521 17.685 19.038 19.334 17.887 21.014 C 16.861 22.491 15.787 23.969 14.154 23.969 C 12.521 23.969 12.101 23.02 10.219 23.02 C 8.384 23.02 7.73 24 6.237 24 C 4.744 24 3.702 22.631 2.504 20.951 C 1.12 18.976 0 15.911 0 13.003 C 0 8.337 3.033 5.863 6.02 5.863 C 7.606 5.863 8.928 6.906 9.923 6.906 C 10.873 6.906 12.35 5.802 14.154 5.802 C 14.839 5.802 17.296 5.864 18.914 8.182 Z M 13.298 3.826 C 14.044 2.94 14.573 1.711 14.573 0.482 C 14.575 0.32 14.56 0.159 14.528 0 C 13.314 0.047 11.868 0.809 10.997 1.82 C 10.312 2.598 9.675 3.826 9.675 5.07 C 9.675 5.257 9.705 5.444 9.721 5.506 C 9.799 5.522 9.924 5.537 10.048 5.537 C 11.137 5.537 12.506 4.807 13.298 3.827 Z" fill="rgb(0, 0, 0)" height="24px" id="v04r379mL" transform="translate(2 0)" width="19.536000000000005px"/></svg>)
![](data:image/svg+xml,<svg display="block" role="presentation" viewBox="0 0 24 24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M 12.476 0.01 C 5.854 -0.253 0.273 4.902 0.01 11.524 C -0.253 18.147 4.902 23.728 11.525 23.99 C 18.147 24.253 23.728 19.098 23.991 12.476 C 24.254 5.854 19.099 0.272 12.476 0.01 Z M 17.542 17.589 C 17.346 17.932 16.908 18.052 16.565 17.857 C 14.978 16.954 13.235 16.361 11.427 16.11 C 9.62 15.853 7.78 15.942 6.007 16.373 C 5.631 16.446 5.264 16.21 5.173 15.838 C 5.083 15.466 5.301 15.088 5.669 14.981 C 7.618 14.507 9.64 14.409 11.627 14.691 C 13.63 14.973 15.53 15.619 17.274 16.611 C 17.439 16.705 17.56 16.861 17.61 17.044 C 17.66 17.228 17.636 17.423 17.542 17.589 Z M 19.119 14.439 C 19.001 14.656 18.802 14.818 18.566 14.888 C 18.329 14.959 18.074 14.932 17.857 14.815 C 15.999 13.81 13.976 13.146 11.885 12.855 C 9.794 12.559 7.667 12.639 5.605 13.093 C 5.102 13.203 4.605 12.885 4.495 12.383 C 4.384 11.88 4.702 11.383 5.205 11.273 C 7.484 10.771 9.834 10.682 12.145 11.011 C 14.456 11.332 16.691 12.065 18.743 13.176 C 19.195 13.421 19.363 13.986 19.119 14.439 Z M 20.867 10.888 C 20.574 11.449 19.882 11.667 19.321 11.376 C 17.157 10.251 14.818 9.504 12.403 9.168 C 9.988 8.825 7.533 8.898 5.144 9.383 C 4.527 9.5 3.931 9.1 3.807 8.485 C 3.682 7.87 4.074 7.269 4.688 7.137 C 7.332 6.6 10.05 6.519 12.722 6.897 C 15.395 7.27 17.984 8.097 20.379 9.342 C 20.94 9.634 21.159 10.326 20.867 10.888 Z" fill="rgb(30, 215, 96)" height="23.999264284236244px" id="ghOdDMk_v" transform="translate(0.001 0)" width="24.000264254861435px"/></svg>)