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

On today’s episode, Niall sits down with Laura Perrins of Gript Media to unpack her recent commentary on Ireland’s rapidly intensifying immigration debate. With Simon Harris and Jim O’Callaghan now talking tough on migration policy in the wake of the UK Home Secretary’s latest proposals, Niall asks the big question: is this genuine political will or just reactive posturing?

Laura walks listeners through the core points of her piece — including why Irish politicians seem to wait for a signal from Westminster before announcing their own crackdowns, despite Ireland not being part of the UK or its legal framework. She highlights the stark contrast between asylum numbers in Denmark (the model the UK claims to be following) and the surging international protection claims in Ireland.

Niall presses Laura on two key issues:

Does clamping down on asylum applications and lengthening the path to citizenship reflect a lack of compassion, or is it a necessary correction to a system under pressure?

Do Irish politicians sincerely intend to control illegal entry — and if so, by what practical means, given the open border through Northern Ireland?

The discussion features differing viewpoints:

Some argue that Ireland must tighten procedures to preserve system integrity and avoid becoming an outlier in Europe. Others fear the rhetoric masks a political attempt to appease public frustration without offering workable solutions — especially while the Common Travel Area and EU migration pact remain in place.

From constitutional constraints to EU obligations to border realities, Niall and Laura explore what fixing the “immigration chaos” would actually require — and whether any government has the courage (or consensus) to do it.

Tune in for a sharp, informed, and provocative conversation.

This week on the show, Niall opens the lines for what quickly becomes one of the most heated conversations of the year: Is RTÉ biased—and should Ireland scrap the TV licence fee altogether?

The debate kicks off after a major international media storm. The BBC has been thrust into the spotlight following accusations that it edited a video of Donald Trump in a misleading way—an allegation so serious that Trump is now suing the broadcaster for manipulating the news. The fallout has reignited global conversations about trust in public broadcasters. And here at home, many callers say the controversy mirrors long-standing complaints about RTÉ’s perceived left-leaning bias and a failure to represent the full spectrum of Irish public opinion.

Some argue that, just like the BBC, RTÉ is protected by guaranteed funding and faces little accountability. Callers across the country tell Niall that the compulsory licence fee is outdated, unfair, and out of touch with a modern media landscape where almost everything—from newspapers to Netflix—is paid for by choice. Their solution? Scrap the licence fee entirely and move RTÉ to a pay-per-view or subscription model so that only those who want it, pay for it.

But is that really the fix?

Niall digs deeper with listeners into the pros and cons:

Pros callers highlight:

Freedom of choice: no one forced to pay for content they don’t watch.

Market pressure could push RTÉ to improve quality, impartiality, and trust.

A system closer to how people actually consume media in 2025.

And the potential downsides:

Without licence-fee funding, RTÉ would struggle to provide the live broadcasting it currently delivers—news, sport, cultural events, emergencies, and national moments.

Rural, minority, and niche programming could disappear entirely under a commercial-only model.

Public-service journalism—already fragile—could shrink or be replaced by whatever content is most profitable.

A subscription RTÉ might become just another streaming service, losing its national role.

Throughout the episode, callers passionately debate what a public broadcaster should be in a modern democracy. Is RTÉ biased—or just unpopular with whichever side disagrees with its coverage on a given day? Is guaranteed funding essential for independent journalism, or does it shield the organisation from accountability?

Niall lets the country speak, challenge, argue, and question:

Should we scrap the licence fee? And what would Ireland look like without a publicly funded RTÉ?

In this episode, Niall is joined by commentator Karl Deeter and a lively panel of callers as they unpack one of the most talked-about political proposals of the week: the Social Democrats’ new Bill aiming to lower Ireland’s voting age from 18 to 16.

With the Dáil set to debate the Forty-first Amendment of the Constitution (Reduction of Voting Age to Sixteen Years) Bill 2025, Niall dives into the arguments driving the push for change. Deputy Aidan Farrelly, the party’s spokesperson on children, argues that 16- and 17-year-olds can work, pay taxes, care for loved ones, and even consent to medical treatment—yet still have no say at the ballot box. Supporters say it’s a matter of fairness and equality, especially at a time when voter turnout in Ireland is slipping. They point to international research suggesting that when young people are enfranchised at 16, they’re more likely to become lifelong voters than those who start at 18. The proposal also echoes a 2013 recommendation from the Constitutional Convention and mirrors similar reforms underway in the UK.

But is Ireland ready to follow suit?

Niall and Karl challenge the arguments, test the evidence, and open the lines to callers across the country. Are 16-year-olds civically informed enough? Is this about strengthening democracy—or political opportunism? And fundamentally, should we lower the voting age to 16?

Tune in for a balanced, energetic debate as listeners weigh in on whether it’s time to hand the ballot paper to Ireland’s youngest citizens.

On today’s show, Niall Boylan talks Halloween — and asks the big question: should bonfires be allowed, just for one night of the year?

We read an email from a mother furious that her 12-year-old son and his friends had their Halloween bonfire wood confiscated by the council after a neighbour complained. She says the Gardaí and local authorities are ruining Halloween for kids — but are they just keeping people safe?

Niall throws it open to listeners:

🔥 The pros: It’s tradition, community fun, and harmless once a year.

🚒 The cons: Fire hazards, pollution, injuries,

Host Niall Boylan sits down with John McGuirk (Gript) to untangle Ireland’s chaotic bottle return scheme. They dig into why the rollout has been such a mess, who’s actually making money, and what it means for ordinary people — from full recycling machines to piles of unclaimed deposits. Expect sharp takes, hard questions, and plenty of pushback.

In this episode Niall and John cover:

A quick explainer of how the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) is supposed to work and why it hit trouble on launch day.

The numbers: how many containers have been returned so far, the system’s capture and overall recycling rates, and milestones reached since launch.

The money question: what happened to unredeemed deposits (tens of millions left unclaimed), what Re-turn reported in its 2024 accounts, and how those sums were handled.

Who’s benefitting — and who isn’t: clarifying the difference between the scheme operator (Deposit Return Scheme Ireland / Re-turn, a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee) and allegations that a private firm “made over €60m.” We unpack the facts and the accounting.

What needs to change: fixes for logistics, better public communication, and the political fallout.

Short teaser line to use on socials: “The bottle scheme is working — but who’s getting the cash? Niall Boylan asks John McGuirk to follow the money.”

Quick facts for the episode

Over 1.6 billion containers have been returned since the scheme launched.

The DRS directly captures about 76% of containers with an overall recycling rate around 91%.

Reports show €66.7m in deposits went unclaimed in the first year; Re-turn’s accounts note related VAT and financial flows linked to unredeemed deposits and operating costs.

Re-turn (Deposit Return Scheme Ireland) is incorporated as a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee and published a detailed 2024 annual report.

There’s been plenty of talk about Catherine Connolly representing financial institutions in eviction cases — with some saying she was just doing her job, and others calling it a betrayal of principle. But where’s the line between professional duty and personal conscience?

Niall opens the phone lines to ask: Would you do something at work that goes against your moral beliefs — or would you risk your job instead?

From radio presenters forced to argue a side they don’t believe in, to Gardaí ordered to stand against residents they quietly support, or doctors treating patients whose actions led to their illness — today’s conversation digs into the grey areas of ethics, loyalty, and responsibility.

Callers share the real-life dilemmas they’ve faced — moments when saying “no” came with a cost.

Niall sits down with social commentator Karl Deeter to unpack one of the most striking moments from the recent presidential debate — when both candidates revealed their biggest regret was how Covid restrictions were handled.

Catherine Connolly admitted she lost trust in the government’s approach and regretted not challenging the extension of restrictions, while Heather Humphreys reflected on the tragedy of allowing the elderly to die alone due to hospital and nursing home rules.

Together, Niall and Karl explore what lessons Ireland has — or hasn’t — learned from that time. They also open the phone lines to listeners sharing their own stories and regrets, from missed final goodbyes to small businesses that never reopened.

👉 What do you think were the biggest mistakes made during Covid

Niall is joined by journalist and author Dr. Eoin Lenihan to discuss his provocative new book, Vandalising Ireland, which explores how Ireland has changed dramatically over the past 25 years — from the Celtic Tiger years to the political landscape of today.

In the book, Lenihan argues that a mix of mass immigration, foreign dependence, and weakened democracy has reshaped the country in ways few could have imagined. He claims that government-funded NGOs, academics, and media institutions have played a major role in driving this transformation, often against the wishes of local communities.

Niall and Eoin unpack these controversial ideas, the evidence behind them, and what Lenihan believes is Ireland’s “make-or-break” moment — as well as his vision for reconnecting Irish people with their cultural and economic roots.

📚 Vandalising Ireland is out now.

Today on The Niall Boylan Show , Niall sits down with Laura Perrins from Gript Media to tackle one of Ireland’s most divisive and painful historical debates — the legacy of the Mother and Baby Homes, and in particular, the controversy surrounding Tuam.

Laura joins the show to defend the reputation of the Bon Secours nuns, arguing that much of what has been reported about Tuam — including claims of a “mass grave” and “atrocities” — has been distorted or exaggerated by the media. Drawing on the Final Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes (2021), Laura makes the case that the scandal at Tuam was the result of poverty, disease, and State neglect, not deliberate cruelty.

Niall presses Laura on these claims — asking whether the nuns and the Church can truly be absolved, and where moral responsibility lies for the suffering of unmarried mothers and their children in mid-20th-century Ireland.

Then, Niall opens the phone lines and asks listeners:

📞 “Who is to blame for what happened in the Irish Mother and Baby Homes?”

Was it the nuns, the Church, the State — or Irish society itself?

Expect a heated, emotional, and deeply human conversation about history, truth, and the power of media narratives.

On today’s show, Niall looks at the Government’s latest move to combat domestic violence — “Jennie’s Law.”

Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan is set to bring the proposal before Cabinet, which would create a Domestic Violence Register — publicly naming those convicted of domestic abuse against a partner or former partner.

The law is named after Jennifer Poole, who was brutally murdered by her ex-partner Gavin Murphy in 2021. Her brother Jason Poole has campaigned tirelessly for greater transparency and protection for victims, and today, that fight has reached the Cabinet table.

But is the law strong enough?

Some campaigners say it doesn’t go far enough — arguing the register should also include people who have had protection orders taken out against them, or those accused but not convicted, since so many abusers never face trial.

Niall wants to hear from you:

📞 Should Jennie’s Law go further?

📞 Or does public naming risk punishing the innocent?

Join the debate — your call could shape the conversation on one of Ireland’s most emotional and urgent justice issues.