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

On today's podcast, Niall is joined by Senator Sarah O' Reilly of Aontú to discuss what many see as the growing erasure of women from public life and official language.

The debate was reignited after an exam paper issued by the State Examinations Commission used the term "pregnant person" rather than "pregnant woman". The Commission defended the wording as being "respectful and inclusive", but critics argue it ignores biological reality and contributes to the gradual removal of women from language, policy and public discourse.

Coming just weeks after controversy surrounding HSE educational material that suggested boys can experience periods, many people are asking whether government departments and public bodies have become detached from common sense. Is this simply an attempt to be inclusive, or are institutions now promoting ideas that conflict with biological facts?

Niall and Senator O' Reilly discuss whether women are being sidelined in the pursuit of gender-neutral language, why so many state agencies appear determined to redefine long-established terms, and whether ordinary people are becoming afraid to question these changes.

Has inclusivity gone too far? Should public bodies stick to biological reality? And why are so many women now speaking out about what they see as the erasure of their identity?

Listen now as Niall and Sarah O' Reilly debate one of the most controversial cultural issues facing Ireland today.

On today's podcast, Niall is joined by social commentator and podcaster Elaine Mullally to discuss a question that goes to the very heart of love, marriage and commitment.

When couples stand at the altar and promise to stay together "in sickness and in health", do they really mean it?

The discussion comes after Hollywood actress Sharon Stone revealed that her marriage effectively ended during a major health scare when she considered undergoing a double mastectomy after doctors discovered multiple tumours. Her story has reignited a debate about what happens when illness enters a relationship and turns life upside down.

Most of us like to believe we would stand by the person we love through anything. But what if your husband or wife became seriously ill tomorrow? What if they lost their independence, required constant care or were diagnosed with a terminal illness? Would your commitment remain unchanged?

A comment posted online recently sparked fierce debate when someone wrote: "I didn't get married to become someone's full-time carer. If my partner needed 24-hour care, I wouldn't stay."

Some people believe marriage is an unconditional promise and that walking away is never an option, regardless of the circumstances. Others argue that becoming a full-time carer can place enormous emotional, physical and financial pressure on a partner, and that not everyone is capable of carrying that burden indefinitely.

On today's podcast, Niall is joined by Olga Cronin, Senior Policy Officer with the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, to discuss whether loyalty cards are one of the biggest consumer cons of modern times.

Supermarkets tell us that loyalty schemes are designed to reward regular customers with exclusive discounts and special offers. But is that really what's happening? Or are shoppers being pressured into handing over their personal data in exchange for prices that should be available to everyone?

Take a walk through any major supermarket and you'll quickly notice two prices on many products. One for loyalty card holders and another, often much higher, price for everyone else. Critics argue that this isn't a genuine discount at all. Instead, they say consumers are effectively being charged extra if they choose not to share their shopping habits, personal information and purchasing behaviour with large corporations.

Every time you swipe a loyalty card, retailers can build a detailed profile of your life, what you eat, when you shop, whether you have children, if you're dieting, how much alcohol you buy and even when your spending habits change. Civil liberties groups warn that many consumers have little understanding of just how much information is being collected and analysed behind the scenes.

Supporters of loyalty schemes argue that nobody is being forced to sign up and that customers are free to take advantage of discounts if they wish. They say the system is voluntary and offers real savings at a time when families are struggling with the cost of living.

But is consent really voluntary when refusing to participate means paying significantly more at the checkout? Should retailers be allowed to offer different prices based on a customer's willingness to share personal data? And have loyalty cards become less about rewarding customers and more about harvesting valuable information?

Niall and Olga Cronin debate whether loyalty schemes are a harmless way to save money or a privacy nightmare hiding in plain sight.

Are loyalty cards rewarding loyalty, or are they simply putting a price on your privacy?

Every week, Niall Boylan sits down with his former producer and longtime friend AJ Walsh for a lively and often unpredictable round-up of the biggest stories making headlines.

This week, Niall and AJ discuss the shocking murder of Henry Nowak, a case that has reignited concerns about violent crime, knife attacks and public safety. They examine the growing fears many people have about crime on our streets and ask whether enough is being done to tackle repeat offenders and prevent future tragedies.

They also dive into a story that sparked plenty of debate online, the claim that women spend significantly longer waiting for public toilets than men. Is it a genuine issue of fairness and planning, or another example of society becoming obsessed with equality in every aspect of life?

The conversation then turns to sport and politics as Ireland prepares to face Israel. With ongoing conflict in the Middle East continuing to dominate international news, calls have been growing for Ireland to boycott the match. Niall and AJ explore the arguments on both sides, asking whether sport should remain separate from politics or whether countries have a moral responsibility to take a stand.

And as always, nothing in government is off limits. From controversial policies and spending decisions to the latest political rows and public frustrations, Niall and AJ give their take on the stories that have people talking across Ireland.

Opinionated, entertaining and occasionally controversial, this is the weekly catch-up where no topic is off the table.

Would €5,000 be enough to get you out of your petrol or diesel car and into an electric vehicle?

On this episode of The Niall Boylan Podcast, Niall discusses the Government's latest proposal to encourage drivers to switch to electric vehicles by offering up to €5,000 to scrap cars that are more than 13 years old and replace them with an EV.

The scheme is being considered as part of Ireland's efforts to meet EU climate targets and reduce emissions from transport. Supporters say it could help make electric cars more affordable while accelerating the move away from fossil fuels.

But callers to the show had very mixed views. Some welcomed the idea and said financial incentives are needed if the Government wants people to make the switch. Others argued that €5,000 wouldn't come close to covering the extra cost of an electric vehicle and raised concerns about charging infrastructure, battery life, depreciation, electricity costs and range anxiety.

Some listeners questioned whether taxpayers should be funding the transition at all, while others felt the Government is trying to force people out of perfectly good petrol and diesel cars before the country is ready.

So, would €5,000 be enough to convince you to go electric? Or are you sticking with petrol or diesel for the foreseeable future?

Listen back to hear the lively debate and the wide range of opinions from callers across the country.

Should parents be expected to know everything their children are reading, or do organisations promoting books to young people have a responsibility too?

On this episode of The Niall Boylan Podcast, Niall is joined by journalist and reporter Ben Scallan and social commentator Karl Deeter to discuss a growing controversy involving Children's Minister Norma Foley and RTÉ.

The debate erupted after RTÉ promoted a book aimed at 15-year-olds which contained information about explicit sexual activities, including anal sex, the use of lubricants and other adult sexual content. When questioned by Ben Scallan, Minister Foley refused to condemn RTÉ's recommendation or agree that the material was inappropriate, insisting that it is ultimately up to parents to know what their children are reading.

But is that a realistic expectation in today's world? Should parents be monitoring every book, website and piece of content their teenagers consume? Or does a state broadcaster have a duty to ensure the material it recommends to young audiences is age appropriate?

Niall, Ben and Karl debate where responsibility lies, whether parents are being unfairly blamed, and if RTÉ should be held accountable for promoting content that many parents would consider unsuitable for children.

Listen now and decide for yourself: who should be responsible for protecting children from inappropriate content, parents, broadcasters, or both?

Leaving Cert Party or Parenting Fail?

A listener contacted the show with a dilemma that has caused a major disagreement in her household.

Her daughter wants to celebrate the end of her Leaving Cert exams by having a party at the family home. The problem? She wants alcohol to be available for her friends.

The listener says her daughter is almost 17 and most of the teenagers who would attend are also 17. She has already spoken to some of the other parents and says many of them don't see a problem with it. In fact, some believe it's safer for teenagers to drink in a controlled environment under adult supervision than to sneak off somewhere else.

But her husband has taken a very different view.

A non-drinker himself, he has firmly stated that no alcohol will be allowed under his roof while the teenagers are under 18. He believes allowing alcohol sends the wrong message and could leave them responsible if anything goes wrong.

So who's right?

Is this simply the reality of modern parenting and a safer way to celebrate a major milestone? Or should parents draw a clear line and refuse to provide alcohol to anyone underage, regardless of what other families are doing?

On today's podcast, Niall hears from callers who have faced similar dilemmas and asks: would you allow alcohol at your 17-year-old's Leaving Cert party? Is the father being sensible and responsible, or is he being far too strict?

Join the conversation as callers share their experiences, opinions and advice on one of the parenting debates that seems to divide families every year.

Did Police Fail Henry Nowak? | Knife Crime, Race and Public Trust

On today's podcast, Niall talks to journalist John McGuirk from Statement International about the shocking death of 18-year-old Henry Nowak, a case that has sparked outrage across Britain and reignited debate about knife crime, policing and public trust.

Henry Nowak was one of more than 170 people fatally stabbed in the UK in 2025. But what has made this case particularly controversial is the police response in the moments after he was attacked. Video footage appears to show officers focusing on allegations that Nowak had made racist remarks, while dismissing his repeated claims that he had been stabbed.

John argues that the case raises serious questions about modern policing priorities, public confidence in law enforcement and whether concerns about racism and prejudice can sometimes distract from immediate threats to public safety. He also discusses wider concerns surrounding political policing, anti-racism policies within police forces and why many people believe policing mistakes increasingly seem to occur in the same direction.

Closer to home, Ireland has seen a rise in knife seizures and a growing concentration of blade-related offences, particularly in Dublin. Aontú has called for a "Bin the Blade" amnesty to help tackle spiralling knife crime on the streets of the capital.

Would a knife amnesty actually make a difference? Could it help reduce violent crime, or is it simply a gesture that fails to address the root causes of the problem?

Niall asks whether Ireland is doing enough to tackle knife crime and whether public confidence in policing is being undermined by high-profile controversies such as the Henry Nowak case.

Join the conversation as callers share their views on knife crime, policing, race, public trust and whether the authorities got it badly wrong in one of the most disturbing cases of recent years.

Birth rates across the Western world are collapsing, families are getting smaller, and in many countries more people are now dying than being born.

On this episode of The Niall Boylan Podcast, Niall is joined by journalist Laura Perrins to discuss what many are calling a demographic crisis. Laura argues that a combination of factors is driving fertility rates down, including the rising cost of living, housing shortages, improved education for women, contraception, abortion, smartphones, changing social habits and what she describes as the rise of "useless men."

But is that the full story?

Some believe the real issue is cultural, with feminism, career ambition, financial independence and delayed motherhood leading many women to choose a different path from previous generations. Others point to economic pressures that make starting a family feel impossible for younger couples.

Laura also raises concerns about a society becoming increasingly less child friendly, where children are seen as an inconvenience rather than a blessing, creating a cycle that discourages future generations from having families of their own.

So what is really behind the dramatic fall in birth rates? Is it economics, changing values, technology, relationships, or something deeper?

And with native populations declining across much of the Western world, are we facing a genuine demographic crisis, or simply adapting to a new way of life?

Listen as Niall and Laura Perrins debate one of the most important and controversial issues facing the West today.

For generations, Irish people have looked beyond our shores in search of a better life. Whether it was for work, opportunity, adventure or simply a fresh start, millions left Ireland and built new lives around the world. Today, the global Irish diaspora is estimated to be between 70 and 80 million people claiming Irish heritage.

But is history repeating itself?

Every day on the show, listeners tell us they are fed up with the cost of living, soaring house prices, high taxes, government policies, the weather and what they see as a lack of opportunities in Ireland. Many talk about packing their bags and heading for Spain, Australia, Canada or the United States.

In fact, this September an Australian jobs expo will take place in Croke Park, actively encouraging Irish professionals to move Down Under in search of better opportunities and a higher quality of life.

But is the grass really greener on the other side?

On this episode, Niall talks to callers about the growing desire among many Irish people to leave Ireland behind and start again somewhere new. Have you ever seriously considered emigrating? Did you move abroad and come back? Or have you already made the leap and never looked back?

If money wasn't an issue, would you leave Ireland tomorrow? Where would you go and what is it that Ireland can no longer offer you?

Or do you believe that despite its problems, Ireland is still one of the best places in the world to live?

Listen as callers share their stories, frustrations, dreams and experiences of life at home and abroad.