Minister of State, John Halligan joined Ryan on The Late Late Show last night to talk about the recently released budget and explain why he’s choosing to fight on in Government despite numerous controversies -but the main area of interest for viewers ended up being his unusual beliefs.
The TD was originally due appear on the Friday night show mid-September to discuss the row between himself and the rest of the Government over a proposed second cath lab at University Hospital Waterford -but he ended up pulling out last minute.
After discussing some heavy government issues, Ryan then questioned the devout atheist about a Christmas card he sent his supporters that showed a human hand and an alien hand against the backdrop of space.
“I have a belief,” he responded. “Which I don’t think I’m far out on – I think it would be naive of us to believe that we’re the only species in the whole of the universe.There’s billions of planets, hundreds of millions of stars, multi-galaxies and so on.”
When the chat show host asked him if he believed in aliens he said, “Absolutely, I think that there are other life forms. I think any scientist – in Nasa, in the European Space Agency – which is under my jurisdiction as minister and I deal with it – I think all scientists believe that we’re just not alone and that’s about the size of it.”
