Madam, - It was interesting to note, reading the interview with the new Head of RTÉ Radio 1, that her interpretation of her new role is that she and her production teams are "in the business of entertaining" (Magazine, September 23rd).
In light of the recent decisions to remove arts coverage from prime time on Radio 1 and replace it with "entertainment", why not go the whole way and ask other responsible institutions to follow suit with a few name-changes and remove that shocking four-letter word (arts) completely? We could then have, for example, the Department of Entertainment, Sport and Tourism, the Entertainment Council and the Irish Museum of Modern Entertainment.
Local councils could employ "entertainment officers" and, of course, colleges would now be offering a new degree: Bachelor of Entertainments.
Of course this leaves RTÉ with its own self-induced oxymoron:
"RTÉ supporting the arts"! - Yours, etc,
DONAL SHIELS, Chairman , Theatre Forum Ireland, Abbey Street, Dublin 2.