The Niall Boylan Podcast (They Told Me To Shut Up)

In this episode, Niall looks at the Government’s latest crackdown on vaping, and asks whether this is a sensible public health measure or another example of the nanny state treating adults like children. The Public Health (Single-Use Vapes) Bill 2025 has now passed through both Houses of the Oireachtas, paving the way for a ban on the sale of disposable vapes in Ireland. Once the law is commenced,...

In this episode, Niall talks to journalist John McGuirk about a question that goes right to the heart of Irish identity: does becoming an Irish citizen automatically make someone Irish? The debate follows a wider conversation about citizenship, nationality, belonging and what it really means to be part of a country. According to official Dáil figures, 100,471 certificates of naturalisation were is...

Niall Boylan is joined by Laura Perrins, journalist with Gript Media, to discuss the growing controversy around e-scooters and calls for tougher regulation. Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman has called for the law to clamp down on retailers selling e-scooters, following reports that six children were admitted to Temple Street Hospital ICU in recent days after e-scooter related accidents. Ministe...

Niall Boylan is joined by former journalist Larissa Nolan to ask a question that always sparks strong memories and strong opinions: what was the best time in Ireland to grow up? Was it the Ireland of the 60s, 70s or 80s, where children played on the streets, neighbours looked out for each other and family and community seemed stronger? Or was that Ireland far tougher than we sometimes remember, wi...

In this episode, Niall talks to Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín about Aontú’s Private Members’ Bill aimed at stopping planned fuel tax increases due on August 1st. Aontú says the bill is designed to block Government plans that could see petrol rise by 27 cent per litre and diesel by 32 cent per litre when temporary excise cuts expire. The party is also calling for a halt to further carbon tax increases...

In this episode, Niall talks to Sandra Adams, advocate for women’s sex-based rights, child safeguarding and fact-based education, about the reported plan to classify both miscarriage and abortion under the same heading of “pregnancy loss” for the purposes of paid leave. The proposal has opened up a difficult and deeply sensitive debate. Supporters say this is about compassion, privacy and dignity...

In this episode, Niall is joined by Senator Sharon Keogan to discuss a new Women for Election report which claims women in Irish politics are facing widespread online abuse, sexualised harassment and threats of violence. The report, titled Recognize, Resist, Rise Up, was part of a five country European study on gender based violence against women in politics. It found that 96% of female TDs and Se...

In this episode, Niall is joined by election candidate and podcaster Nick Delehanty to discuss Donald Trump’s proposed visit to Ireland for the Irish Open at Doonbeg this September. Trump’s possible arrival has already divided opinion. Sinn Féin TD Louise O’Reilly has said she is more likely to be with the protesters than welcoming him, pointing to objections over his relationship with Israel. Cia...

It's that time of the week again as Niall Boylan is joined by his former producer and good friend AJ Walsh to break down the biggest stories making headlines in Ireland and around the world. This week, they discuss Metallica's generous €80,000 donation to Irish charities during their Dublin visit, RTÉ's decision to make dozens of presenters employees after the bogus self employment controversy, fu...

What happens when you strip away the stigma, the myths, and the taboos surrounding sex? In this fascinating and completely uncensored episode, Niall sits down with Clarity Mills, one of Ireland's best known dominatrices and a professional sex educator, for a candid conversation that explores a side of human sexuality many people are curious about but rarely discuss openly. Together they delve into...

Few criminal cases have shocked Ireland as deeply as the attack that left three young children fighting for their lives and an entire nation searching for answers. In this episode, Niall is joined by journalist Fatima Gunning to examine the case of Riad Bouchaker, who has been found guilty on all eight counts of attempted murder of three young children, assault causing serious harm to their carer,...

Is Ireland's Bottle Return Scheme delivering on its environmental promises, or has it become an expensive inconvenience for consumers? In this episode, Niall is joined by journalist Larissa Nolan to discuss one of the country's most divisive environmental initiatives. Larissa has been a vocal critic of the scheme and is even organising a live event to highlight what she believes are its many flaws...

Should Ireland bring back the death penalty? In this episode, Niall opens the lines to hear what listeners really think about one of the most divisive questions in criminal justice. If there were a referendum tomorrow, would you vote to restore capital punishment for the most horrific crimes, or should Ireland never return to state executions? Supporters argue that some crimes are so evil that lif...

If You Were Housing Minister for One Day, What Would You Do? Ireland's housing crisis has dominated political debate for years, yet for many people the dream of owning a home seems further away than ever. House prices remain high, rents continue to soar, and thousands of people are still waiting for social housing while homelessness remains at record levels. On today's podcast, Niall is joined by...

On today's podcast, Niall is joined by Sandra Adams, advocate for women's sex based rights, child safeguarding and fact based education, to discuss growing concerns over the Government's decision to require parents to use a Public Services Card to participate in the Department of Education's online consultation on school meals. The consultation is intended to gather parents' views on the future of...

Did We Get Covid Wrong? New Documents, Fauci, Wuhan and Ireland’s Covid Inquiry On today’s podcast, Niall is joined by journalist John McGuirk from The Statement to discuss newly released White House documents that supporters of the lab leak theory say raise serious questions about Dr Anthony Fauci, US funding of coronavirus research in Wuhan, and whether people once dismissed as "conspiracy theor...

A new Red C poll suggests that public attitudes towards Ireland's border are changing, with more than a third of voters saying they would support the return of a hard border with Northern Ireland if it helped tackle illegal immigration. The findings come amid growing concern over claims that some asylum seekers are travelling into the Republic via Northern Ireland after first arriving in the UK, r...

Should your employer be allowed to tell you when it's time to retire? On this episode, Niall opens the phone lines to discuss whether mandatory retirement ages should become a thing of the past. The debate comes as new legislation has come into effect in Ireland giving many employees the right to refuse compulsory retirement before the State pension age of 66. Workers whose employment contracts re...

On today's episode of The Niall Boylan Podcast, Niall is joined by podcaster and social commentator Elaine Mullally to debate one of the most controversial questions facing modern policing. Should Gardaí have the power to seize your mobile phone without first obtaining a search warrant if they reasonably believe it contains evidence of a serious crime? The debate has intensified following comments...

On today's episode of The Niall Boylan Podcast, Niall is joined by journalist and Aontú communications officer Larissa Nolan to debate whether wheel clamping has outlived its usefulness. Dublin City Council clamped more than 45,000 vehicles in 2024, making Ireland one of the few countries in Europe where wheel clamping remains a routine parking enforcement tool. While most European countries rely...

On this week's News Round Up, Niall is joined by his good friend and former producer AJ Walsh to take a look back at the biggest stories making headlines over the past week, some deeply serious, others downright bizarre. They discuss the guilty verdicts against Sir Jeffrey Donaldson and Lady Eleanor Donaldson, the growing calls to decriminalise all drugs for personal use, and the debate over wheth...

Should single sex schools become a thing of the past? A new Department of Education survey has found that more than 73% of households with children attending single sex primary schools would like their school to become co educational. The findings come as the Government continues its policy of encouraging schools to reconfigure to mixed education where there is local demand, arguing that parents s...

TDs and Senators from across the political spectrum have recommended one of the biggest changes to Ireland's drug laws in decades, calling for the possession of all illegal drugs for personal use to be fully decriminalised. The recommendation, contained in the final report of the Oireachtas Committee on Drugs Use, follows similar proposals made by the Citizens' Assembly on Drug Use and argues that...

Ireland's long-awaited Covid inquiry is finally underway, and already it is raising difficult questions. This week, Taoiseach Micheál Martin faced extensive questioning from the inquiry panel about the Government's handling of the pandemic, but unlike the public inquiries seen in the UK and elsewhere, the interviews are being conducted behind closed doors. No transcripts will be published and the...

Ireland's long-awaited Covid inquiry is finally underway, and already it is raising difficult questions. This week, Taoiseach Micheál Martin faced extensive questioning from the inquiry panel about the Government's handling of the pandemic, but unlike the public inquiries seen in the UK and elsewhere, the interviews are being conducted behind closed doors. No transcripts will be published and the...