The 36-year-old Mullingar TD also puts forward the case for legalising marijuana, talks about Sinn Fein being in government one day, chats about visiting strip clubs, reveals all about his run-ins with Shane Ross – and talks honestly about mental health and suicide. He also reflects on the tragic loss of two of his siblings and speaks candidly about suffering from anxiety and panic attacks.

The interview was conducted by Hot Press’ senior editor Jason O’Toole and appears in the Christmas Special Issue of Hot Press, which is published this week.

On his battles with mental health:“I just literally crashed. I felt, “What is all this for?” And I felt very low. I felt inadequate. I felt that I wasn’t fit for purpose. I didn’t want to go out, more so than previously. I realised all’s not well and I went to see my GP and he made a referral to talk somebody, and I did.”

On contemplating suicide: “It would be fair to say that the thought has crossed my mind, but I’ve never taken any action on it. Perhaps – while I thought of it – deep down I didn’t really want to do it. What I would emphasise is the importance of reaching out and speaking. It doesn’t necessarily have to be with a professional but someone who will listen,” he says.

On drink driving, Robert says:“I suppose, given my current portfolio as spokesperson, I’d be embarrassed to say it now. I would have, as an immature person, maybe thought it was a kind of a manly thing that I was able to manage the car and bring it home after four or five pints. It was stupid and it was immature.”

On legalising marijuana, Robert states: “Look it, there’s merit in it. It would appear that there’s a lot of people fucking smoking it anyway. I don’t know, sometimes you might be better off legalising something and at least getting tax off it than not.”

On Noah’s Ark, Robert states, “Of course it could rain for 30 days and 30 nights. Sure many-a-time in Ireland, it fucking rains for 30 days consecutively. Now, we didn’t need Noah’s Ark to get out of it. But, of course, it could be true.”

On visiting strip clubs, Robert states, “As a teenager, I went to a strip club at a friend’s brother’s stag party. What passes as fun and entertainment at 19 certainly wouldn’t pass as fun and entertainment now. Recently, I was in Amsterdam and walked through the red light district and I found it seedy and uninteresting.”

On Sinn Fein, Robert tells us:“I’ve no doubt, at some stage into the future, Sinn Féin will be in government. But, as a party, we’ve taken the decision that won’t b after the next general election anyhow.”

On his reputation as a so-called “ladies’ man”, Robert says, “Sometimes someone’s reputation can supercede them. Put it this way, if I was with all the women I was alleged to have been with, I would have had a very exciting number of years! I’m in a relationship about two years. For most of my adult life, I’ve been in relationships.”

There is much more in this remarkable, exclusive Hot Press interview, as Robert Troy also talks candidly about sex, about supporting Repeal – and discusses his faith…