Rónán Mullen (Independent)

Perhaps that reveals me to be something of a philistine. I would rather have eaten it than read it a third time.

Arts programming appeals to a small section of the community. It is right and proper that public service broadcasting should deal with the highbrow stuff. As I have said in another forum in respect of this Bill, it is great that we have Lyric FM, which caters for a relatively small number of people — myself included — with particular tastes. That is what public service broadcasting is all about. It must also facilitate the search for the meaning and purpose of life, however. That search, which is not just a matter for consideration by Catholics and other Christians, has to be honoured. That is why the Government is to be commended for its establishment of a structured dialogue between the great religious communities and other organisations, such as humanist groups, etc., which are also engaged in the search for meaning.

I am sure the Minister is as aware as I am of Viktor Frankl's great book, Man's Search for Meaning, in which the author, a Holocaust survivor, reflects on why some prisoners in concentration camps acted like barbarians and some guards in the camps had an admirable nobility of spirit. Mr. Frankl came to the conclusion that one's behaviour in such circumstances depends on one's sense of the meaning and purpose of life. While some people who find such meaning and purpose outside of religion and live wonderful, noble and wholesome lives, religion brings out the best in many people. Depending on the tradition one cares to discuss, one can refer to people like Mother Teresa and the Dalai Lama.

I apologise for speaking for longer than I should have. I commend Senator O'Reilly for these amendments. I assure the Minister that they are worthy of favourable consideration.