Social Democrats leader Catherine Murphy reveals all in this week's Hot Press

Despite being the leading force behind a new political party, there is very little known about Catherine’s private life. Opening up to Hot Press, the mother-of-two confesses that she married too young and explains why she doesn’t believe in God.

Being at the political coal-face, Murphy deals with Fine Gael day and daily and offers words of warning to Ireland's leading party: “It’s not going to be Fine Gael that elects the Taoiseach, it’s going to be the Dáil.”

On the international front, she gives her damning opinion on why Donald Trump's sexism and scaremongering is dividing America. “I find it incredible that Donald Trump could’ve ended up being the President.” She says that he’s style of politics was “all about fear” and adds, “It is the kind of world leadership we don’t need. I just find the whole thing incredible. It’s bringing politics to a new low.”

On the topic of drugs, Murphy openly admits having inhaled marijuana a few times and says she's in favour of looking at evidence that supports decriminalisation. She also favours for the introduction of injection centres and making marijuana available for medicinal purposes.

Describing herself as pro-choice, Murphy has words about the Eighth Amendment, saying that kicking the issue to the Citizens Assembly is a form of political cowardice. “You know, we do have a Citizen’s Assembly," she says. "It’s called the Dáil. Ideally, I’d like to have seen that approach. The Citizen's Assembly should be removed from the constitution."

One issue Catherine is passionate about is the housing crisis and homelessness. Asked, hypothetically speaking, if she could solve this crisis tomorrow – on the one condition that she’d have to give up sex – she readily agrees to such a deal.

"I’d almost give up anything to sort the housing crisis because I see people here every day of the week. If there was something you could actually personally sacrifice to resolve that problem, there would be very little that you wouldn’t do, to sort that housing and homeless crisis. It’s the tragedy of our time.

"But I would do way beyond that. There’s lots I’d give up to sort that crisis out.”

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