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

Niall speaks to journalist Laura Perrins about the arrival of Britain’s new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, and his promise of a ten year plan to transform the country.

In his first speech outside Downing Street, Burnham declared that Britain had taken “some wrong turns” since the 1980s, particularly through privatisation and the weakening of local government. He has promised greater public control over essential services, with lower transport costs and capped fares among the first measures reportedly under consideration. AP News

Laura argues that Burnham appears determined to turn back the clock on more than 40 years of economic policy. She asks whether conservatives would be treated so sympathetically if they claimed that life was better four decades ago, and why looking to the past is considered reactionary when it comes from the right, but progressive when it comes from the left.

Niall and Laura examine whether price caps and greater state control can genuinely address Britain’s economic problems, or whether Burnham is reviving socialist policies that have already failed.

The discussion then turns to Ireland. Is the country governed better today, or was it better before the enormous social and political changes of recent decades, including divorce, same sex marriage, abortion, green policies and the wider liberalisation of Irish society?

Is looking to the past always backward, or are there occasions when a country must return to what previously worked?

Niall speaks to Irish Daily Mail journalist Ken Murray about the newspaper’s front page revelation that more than 16,000 people arrived at Dublin Airport without passports or valid travel documents between 2020 and 2025.

Figures obtained from the Department of Justice show that 16,307 undocumented passengers arrived during that period, with a record 4,968 arriving in 2022 alone. The total does not include arrivals at Cork, Shannon or Knock airports, meaning the true nationwide figure could be considerably higher.

How are passengers boarding international flights with passports, only to arrive in Ireland without them? Are documents being deliberately destroyed during flights to conceal identities, nationalities or travel routes? Why has the Government not required airlines to retain secure copies of passengers’ documents before departure?

Niall and Ken also examine Ireland’s failure to enforce deportation orders. Between 2020 and 2025, 9,142 orders were signed, but only 969 deportations were carried out. Does the State know how many of those ordered to leave remain in Ireland, and why is there such an enormous gap between issuing an order and enforcing it?

Has Ireland become a soft touch with what is effectively an open border crisis? Can the Government regain control of the immigration system, or will the financial cost, political division and social unrest continue to grow?

Niall speaks to Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín about new figures revealing that 6,329 people have been receiving Jobseeker’s Allowance for more than ten years.

The figures also show that almost 39,000 people have remained on the payment for at least two years, approximately 21,000 for four years or more and around 9,000 for over eight years. This is happening while Ireland’s unemployment rate stands at approximately 5 per cent.

Tóibín argues that there is “no shortage of jobs out there” and insists that social welfare must remain a safety net rather than “become a lifestyle”. He estimates that supporting more than 6,000 people for over a decade may have cost the State as much as €800 million and is calling for penalties where someone chooses to remain unemployed despite being capable of working.

Under the existing rules, a person receiving Jobseeker’s Allowance must be capable of working, available for full-time employment and genuinely seeking work. So how can thousands of people apparently satisfy those conditions continuously for more than a decade?

Niall and Peadar discuss whether long-term recipients should be required to accept suitable employment, training, voluntary work or a community placement. Should payments be reduced or eventually withdrawn from those who repeatedly refuse reasonable opportunities?

They also consider the other side of the argument. Long-term unemployment can involve poor health, age, inadequate skills, family responsibilities, addiction, housing difficulties and jobs that are simply unavailable in a person’s area. The figures alone do not prove that all 6,329 recipients are refusing to work or fraudulently claiming benefits.

Where should Ireland draw the line between protecting people who genuinely need assistance and continuing to support those who may simply have no intention of working? Would you report somebody you knew was claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance while secretly working for cash?

Niall speaks to Fatima Gunning, journalist with Gript Media, and Noel O’Flynn about calls for Gardaí to receive greater legal protection when pursuing suspected criminals.

Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan says he wants legislation progressed to protect Gardaí involved in pursuits of cars, scramblers, e-bikes and e-scooters. Pointing to the UK, where police officers have “specific statutory protections” when pursuing suspects during the course of their work, O’Callaghan said: “I would like to see something like that within the Irish legal system.”

The debate comes as Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly revealed that ten Garda members are currently before the courts over alleged careless or dangerous driving incidents arising during the course of their duties.

Niall, Fatima and Noel ask whether criminals are exploiting Garda reluctance to give chase, knowing that officers could face prosecution, lose their driving licences or even destroy their careers if a pursuit goes wrong.

However, greater legal protection cannot mean complete immunity. If a Garda drives recklessly and an innocent pedestrian or motorist is seriously injured or killed, who should be held responsible? Should the law judge a Garda’s driving against the actions of an appropriately trained police officer facing the same circumstances, as happens in Britain?

Should Gardaí acting in good faith be protected from prosecution, or could the proposed legislation place innocent members of the public at greater risk? Details of Jim O’Callaghan’s remarks

Welcome to the brand new podcast where broadcaster Niall Boylan and his wife, Karen, discuss everything and anything. From the biggest stories in the news to the arguments taking place in bedrooms, kitchens and family WhatsApp groups, absolutely nothing is off the table.

This week, Niall and Karen discuss whether married couples should keep their money separate and when adult children should finally be told to leave home.

The listeners have also been in touch with some extraordinary marital dilemmas. One woman discovered that her husband had been secretly wearing her underwear and using her make-up. Another husband feels as though he is married to an entire committee because his wife shares every argument with her friends. Meanwhile, one woman wants her husband to cut contact with a former girlfriend, but he insists they are now simply friends.

Expect disagreements, uncomfortable confessions, plenty of laughter and an honest husband versus wife perspective on relationships, marriage and modern life.

Welcome to Don’t Call Me Darling, where Niall and Karen may not always agree, but neither of them will be keeping quiet.

This week, Niall is joined by legendary broadcaster George Hook for Episode 8 of Not Suitable for Broadcast, as the two radio veterans take an unapologetic look at some of the biggest, strangest and most controversial stories of the week.

They begin with RTÉ’s continuing funding crisis and ask whether taxpayers are supporting essential public broadcasting or simply protecting an oversized and privileged organisation. With hundreds of millions of euro committed to RTÉ and television licence sales continuing to fall, has the broadcaster genuinely reformed, and should households that never watch or listen to RTÉ still be forced to fund it?

Niall and George also discuss the growing push towards a cashless Ireland. Should shops, sporting venues and essential State services be allowed to refuse notes and coins? Is cashless payment genuinely more convenient, or does it leave older people, vulnerable customers and those without access to banking technology increasingly excluded?

There is also the embarrassing moment Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan complained that she could not use the Irish language at an EU meeting, only to be told that she was perfectly entitled to speak Irish. Her response, that she had not prepared to speak it, raises questions about political point scoring and whether some politicians practise what they preach.

The pair then turn their attention to claims that Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are centre right parties. Niall and George ask whether either party can still genuinely be described as conservative, or whether Ireland’s political and media establishment has moved so far to the left that almost anyone outside it is now branded right wing.

With a six week hosepipe ban introduced across Dublin and several other counties, they examine Ireland’s water infrastructure, years of mismanagement and the extraordinary salaries being paid within Uisce Éireann while the public is once again being ordered to conserve water.

Irish citizenship is also under the spotlight following Niall’s interview with Ben Scallan. Should applicants be required to demonstrate a basic command of English or Irish, a clean criminal record and meaningful integration before being granted an Irish passport? Is citizenship treated as a cherished privilege, or is it being handed out with far too little scrutiny?

Finally, Niall and George discuss the viral footage of a tourist being launched into the air by a bison in Yellowstone National Park and offer some very straightforward advice: do not attempt to punch a 2,000 pound wild animal in the nose.

It is sharp, funny, opinionated and definitely not suitable for broadcast.

Niall speaks to Independent Senator Rónán Mullen about the increasingly hostile and dangerous nature of modern politics following the killing of former British government minister and Reform UK spokesperson Ann Widdecombe.

The 78-year-old former MP was found dead at her home in Devon following what counterterrorism police have described as a targeted attack. Although investigators are still working to establish the precise motive, her killing has renewed concerns about the safety of politicians and other public figures.

Speaking at a Mass for Ann Widdecombe in Dublin, Senator Mullen warned that Ireland is “not immune” to political violence. He said everyone involved in public debate must be careful about their language, because an unstable or radicalised person may interpret hateful comments as permission or encouragement to act violently.

Niall and Senator Mullen examine why politics has become so bitter, personal and divided. When Niall began working in radio, relatively few people constantly defined every issue in terms of “the left” and “the right”. Today, those labels dominate political discussion, with people frequently treating anyone who disagrees with them not simply as wrong, but as dangerous, hateful or morally corrupt.

Has social media created ideological echo chambers where anger, threats and personal abuse are rewarded with attention? Have politicians themselves contributed to the problem by portraying their opponents as extremists and enemies? Does the mainstream media deepen divisions by reducing complex issues to conflict between two opposing camps?

They also ask whether accusations such as “far right”, “far left”, “fascist”, “traitor” and “threat to democracy” have become so casually used that they are stripping political opponents of their humanity.

Robust political debate is essential in a democracy, and politicians must remain open to criticism. However, where is the line between legitimate criticism, inflammatory rhetoric and language that could encourage someone to take the law into their own hands?

Who created today’s political division: politicians, the public, social media or the mainstream media? And can the temperature be lowered without silencing passionate debate and legitimate political disagreement?

Niall talks to callers about the growing controversy over Government plans to reduce payments to people providing accommodation to Ukrainians in Ireland.

The Accommodation Recognition Payment currently gives hosts €600 per month for housing Ukrainian refugees. However, the Government plans to reduce that payment to €400 from September, before ending the scheme entirely in March 2027.

The Dáil has heard warnings that reducing the payment could force tens of thousands of Ukrainians out of their current accommodation and potentially leave many facing homelessness. Supporters of the scheme argue that hosts have helped prevent an even greater accommodation crisis and that removing the payment while Ireland is already struggling with housing shortages could have serious consequences.

Others believe the emergency arrangements have continued for too long. Ukrainians have now been living in Ireland for more than four years, and critics argue that taxpayers should not be expected to fund indefinite accommodation payments and additional supports that are not available to Irish citizens or other residents.

Some callers believe the Government should go even further by ending automatic access to medical cards and removing other special supports, particularly for people who are working or who may now be able to safely return to parts of Ukraine away from the frontline.

Niall asks whether reducing the payment is a reasonable first step towards ending emergency supports, or whether it risks creating a new homelessness crisis. Should Ireland continue providing additional assistance to Ukrainians, gradually reduce it, or bring the schemes to an end and require people to pay their own accommodation and living costs like everybody else?

Niall speaks to Ben Scallan from Gript Media about the serious questions surrounding Ireland’s citizenship and naturalisation process following the conviction of Riad Bouchaker for the attempted murder of three young children during the horrific knife attack at Parnell Square in Dublin in November 2023.

Bouchaker, who was born in Algeria, had reportedly lived in Ireland for approximately 20 years and had become an Irish citizen. However, despite spending two decades in the country, he required an Arabic interpreter throughout his trial because of his limited command of English.

Niall and Ben ask how someone can live in Ireland for so long, obtain Irish citizenship and still be unable to communicate effectively in English. Should applicants be required to demonstrate a reasonable proficiency in English or Irish before receiving an Irish passport? Should greater emphasis be placed on integration, respect for the country and an understanding of Irish society, laws and values?

They also discuss whether the Government should explain how Bouchaker’s citizenship application was assessed, whether the current system is rigorous enough and why requests for greater transparency have been resisted.

This is not simply a discussion about one convicted criminal. It raises a much broader question about what Irish citizenship should represent. Is citizenship merely an administrative process awarded after a certain number of years, or should it require a meaningful commitment to Ireland, its people and its way of life?

In this episode, Niall speaks to callers about an email from a furious female listener whose husband wants to go on a week long lads’ holiday to Spain without her or their children.

The husband plans to travel with a group of men from his local pub, many of whom are younger, single and unmarried. His wife insists that she trusts him, but says she does not trust the situation after days of drinking, pressure from single friends and attention from other women.

What has angered her most is that the couple have not taken their two children on a family holiday this year, yet her husband suddenly appears able to find both the money and the time for a week away with the lads. After she told him he should not go, the couple stopped speaking.

Is she being controlling and treating her husband like a child, or does a married man with children have responsibilities that should come before a drinking holiday with single friends?

Can you genuinely trust your partner while still believing the circumstances are inappropriate? Should married couples be allowed to take separate holidays, or does marriage mean accepting that some parts of single life must be left behind?

Niall hears strong opinions from callers as they debate trust, temptation, double standards, family priorities and what really happens on lads’ holidays.