Afleveringen
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In this episode, Niall speaks to Larissa Nolan, Communications Officer with AontĂș, about the Irish Medical Councilâs pursuit of doctors over public comments and professional opinions they expressed during the Covid pandemic.
A number of doctors have faced fitness-to-practise inquiries or misconduct allegations after questioning lockdowns, mask mandates, PCR testing, Covid vaccines and other Government policies. The controversy raises serious questions about professional freedom, civil liberties and whether doctors should be punished for expressing views that challenged the official position at the time.
AontĂș has called for these Medical Council proceedings to be paused until Irelandâs official review of the pandemic response has been completed. Party leader Peadar TĂłibĂn highlighted the case of Dr Patrick Morrissey and argued that the State itself has major questions to answer before doctors are judged. He pointed to prolonged lockdowns, school closures, the treatment of nursing-home residents, people dying in isolation, the impact on young people and families experiencing domestic violence, and the absence of a comprehensive vaccine injury compensation scheme.
AontĂș councillor Peter OâDonoghue has also argued that doctors who acted in good faith and expressed different professional opinions now face the possible destruction of their careers before the Governmentâs own decisions have been fully examined.
If doctors are being held accountable for what they said during the pandemic, should politicians also face a disciplinary court over decisions they made that may have caused serious harm?
Should elected representatives be judged for lockdowns, school closures, healthcare restrictions and vaccine policies that may now be viewed differently with the benefit of hindsight, or is accountability at the ballot box enough?
Niall discusses the issue with Larissa Nolan from AontĂș.
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In this episode, Niall speaks to social commentator and podcaster Elaine Mullally about age discrimination in the workplace and whether workers over 50 are being unfairly overlooked.
Approximately 80% of workers over the age of 50 say they have experienced or witnessed age discrimination, including being denied interviews, passed over for promotions or subjected to stereotypes about their energy, adaptability and ability to learn new skills.
Ireland is currently close to full employment, yet many older workers say that losing a job after the age of 50 can leave them struggling to find another opportunity, regardless of their experience or qualifications.
If a candidate over 50 and a fit 25-year-old applied for the same position, and both had the necessary skills, who would you hire?
Supporters of the older candidate argue that experience, maturity, reliability and workplace knowledge should count for more. Others believe younger applicants may be more energetic, adaptable and motivated to build a long-term career.
Are employers making sensible business decisions, or are they dismissing valuable workers simply because of their age?
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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Niall speaks to Irish Daily Mail journalist Ken Murray about the newspaperâs 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 passengersâ documents before departure?
Niall and Ken also examine Irelandâs 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?
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Niall speaks to journalist Laura Perrins about the arrival of Britainâs 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 âsome wrong turnsâ 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 Britainâs 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?
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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 Donât Call Me Darling, where Niall and Karen may not always agree, but neither of them will be keeping quiet.
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Niall speaks to Fatima Gunning, journalist with Gript Media, and Noel OâFlynn about calls for GardaĂ to receive greater legal protection when pursuing suspected criminals.
Justice Minister Jim OâCallaghan says he wants legislation progressed to protect GardaĂ involved in pursuits of cars, scramblers, e-bikes and e-scooters. Pointing to the UK, where police officers have âspecific statutory protectionsâ when pursuing suspects during the course of their work, OâCallaghan said: âI would like to see something like that within the Irish legal system.â
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 Gardaâs driving against the actions of an appropriately trained police officer facing the same circumstances, as happens in Britain?
Should GardaĂ 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 OâCallaghanâs remarks
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Niall speaks to AontĂș leader Peadar TĂłibĂn about new figures revealing that 6,329 people have been receiving Jobseekerâs 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 Irelandâs unemployment rate stands at approximately 5 per cent.
TĂłibĂn argues that there is âno shortage of jobs out thereâ and insists that social welfare must remain a safety net rather than âbecome a lifestyleâ. He estimates that supporting more than 6,000 people for over a decade may have cost the State as much as âŹ800 million and is calling for penalties where someone chooses to remain unemployed despite being capable of working.
Under the existing rules, a person receiving Jobseekerâs 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 personâs 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 Jobseekerâs Allowance while secretly working for cash?
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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 RTĂâs 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 RTĂ and television licence sales continuing to fall, has the broadcaster genuinely reformed, and should households that never watch or listen to RTĂ 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 FĂ©in 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 FĂĄil are centre right parties. Niall and George ask whether either party can still genuinely be described as conservative, or whether Irelandâs 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 Irelandâs water infrastructure, years of mismanagement and the extraordinary salaries being paid within Uisce Ăireann while the public is once again being ordered to conserve water.
Irish citizenship is also under the spotlight following Niallâs 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.
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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 âŹ600 per month for housing Ukrainian refugees. However, the Government plans to reduce that payment to âŹ400 from September, before ending the scheme entirely in March 2027.
The DĂĄil 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?
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Niall speaks to Ben Scallan from Gript Media about the serious questions surrounding Irelandâs 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 Bouchakerâs 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?
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Niall speaks to Independent Senator RĂłnĂĄn 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 ânot immuneâ 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 âthe leftâ and âthe rightâ. 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 âfar rightâ, âfar leftâ, âfascistâ, âtraitorâ and âthreat to democracyâ 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 todayâs 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?
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In this episode, Niall speaks to callers about an email from a furious female listener whose husband wants to go on a week long ladsâ 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 ladsâ holidays.
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In this episode, Niall is joined by barrister and political commentator Laura Perrins to discuss two stories dominating conversation in Britain and Ireland.
First, they examine the shocking murder of former Conservative minister Ann Widdecombe and the serious questions surrounding the investigation. After an initial arrest reportedly resulted in a man being released without charge, counterterrorism police later took control of the case when new evidence emerged. Niall and Laura discuss whether crucial opportunities were missed, why the investigation appeared to change direction so dramatically, and whether the authorities were too slow to recognise that this may have been a targeted political attack.
Then attention turns to tonightâs huge World Cup semifinal between England and Argentina.
While English supporters dream of repeating the glory of 1966, many Irish pubs will be filled with newly recruited Argentina fans whose main qualification is a determination to support anybody but England.
Irish people often insist that the bitterness of the past has been left behind, yet whenever England reach the latter stages of a major tournament, the old hostility quickly returns. Is it simply harmless sporting rivalry and good natured banter, or does it expose a deeper resentment that still exists beneath the surface?
Should Irish football supporters put history aside and support their closest neighbours, or has cheering against England become an accepted part of Irish identity?
Will you be waving the Union Jack and cheering on Harry Kane and the boys, or desperately hoping Lionel Messi and Argentina send England home?
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Ireland is officially in the middle of a housing emergency, with thousands of people struggling to buy or rent a home. Yet another proposed apartment development has been stopped over concerns about its impact on people already living nearby.
In this episode, Niall speaks to property expert Karl Deeter about plans by Ires Reit to build a six storey block containing 38 apartments on the former Bruce House site on Main Road in Tallaght.
South Dublin County Council initially granted permission, but required the developer to include more three bedroom apartments, reducing the overall development from 38 homes to 33. Ires Reit appealed that condition, arguing that reducing the number of apartments would threaten the financial viability of the project.
Following an appeal from the local community, An CoimisiĂșn PleanĂĄla refused permission, citing the proposed buildingâs proximity to the existing Priorsgate apartments and concerns about overlooking and the loss of daylight to neighbouring homes.
Niall and Karl debate the difficult conflict at the centre of Irelandâs housing crisis. Existing residents have every right to protect their privacy, access to daylight, property values and quality of life. However, when almost every substantial housing development faces objections, reductions, appeals or legal challenges, where exactly are the homes Ireland desperately needs supposed to be built?
Is Irelandâs planning system protecting communities from unsuitable development, or is it making the housing crisis impossible to solve?
Should homeowners have the power to block badly needed apartments beside their properties? Are developers attempting to squeeze too many homes onto unsuitable sites, or must established communities accept greater density as Irelandâs population grows?
Niall asks whether people effectively believe they should have a veto over who lives in their area, how many people can live there and what type of homes can be constructed on their doorstep.
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The number of sexual offence cases entering Irelandâs courts has risen significantly over the past two years, reigniting the debate about whether people accused of these crimes should remain anonymous until they are convicted.
In this episode, Niall speaks to Laise De Brun BL. and Dublin City Councillor Gavin Pepper about the difficult balance between protecting complainants, encouraging other potential victims to come forward and preserving the presumption of innocence for defendants who have not been found guilty.
The Courts Serviceâs newly published annual report shows that the District Court received 3,648 new sexual offence cases during 2025. That was almost unchanged from 3,650 in 2024, but represented an increase of 13.6 per cent from the 3,211 cases recorded in 2023.
The figures come as TĂĄnaiste Simon Harris described domestic, sexual and gender based violence as an âepidemicâ in Ireland and a âpandemicâ globally. His comments were made during a wider discussion about violence against women, in which he argued that focusing solely on the race, nationality or ethnicity of an alleged offender risks missing the broader scale of the problem.
However, recorded crime figures do not tell one simple story. CSO data for the year to the first quarter of 2026 showed a 15 per cent fall in recorded sexual crime incidents, from 3,888 to 3,315. The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre warned that this may not indicate a genuine reduction in sexual violence, but could instead suggest that some victims are becoming more reluctant to report their experiences.
Under legislation commenced in 2024, a person accused of a sexual offence is generally protected from being publicly identified unless and until they are convicted. Complainants are also entitled to anonymity. The law is intended to protect the alleged victim, preserve the fairness of proceedings and prevent an unconvicted defendant from suffering irreversible reputational damage.
But should that protection always apply?
Supporters of naming defendants argue that publicity can encourage other alleged victims to contact GardaĂ, potentially revealing a pattern of behaviour or providing evidence that investigators would otherwise never discover. In some high profile cases, additional complainants have only come forward after an accused personâs identity became publicly known.
Opponents argue that an accusation is not a conviction. They warn that naming an innocent person can destroy their career, relationships and reputation, even where the case is later withdrawn or ends in an acquittal. There is also a danger that identifying the accused could indirectly reveal the identity of the complainant, particularly where the parties are related or closely connected.
Niall and Councillor Gavin Pepper ask whether the current law strikes the correct balance.
Should a person accused of rape or sexual assault remain anonymous until conviction? Should judges have discretion to permit identification where GardaĂ believe other victims may exist? Could naming an accused person assist an investigation, or would it undermine the presumption of innocence and expose unconvicted people to trial by social media?
As sexual offence cases increase before the courts, is it time to reconsider the law, or is anonymity an essential protection in one of the most serious and damaging categories of criminal allegation?
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Niall speaks to callers and former RTĂ correspondent, now Independent Ireland MEP CiarĂĄn Mullooly, about the national broadcasterâs demand for another guaranteed, multi annual Government funding package when its current arrangement ends in 2027.
The Government has already committed âŹ725 million in public funding to RTĂ for the three years from 2025 to 2027. This combines television licence income with increasingly large taxpayer funded top ups intended to guarantee the broadcaster an agreed level of funding. RTĂ received approximately âŹ183 million from licence fees last year, along with a âŹ41 million Exchequer top up. For 2026, it expects roughly âŹ185 million from licence sales and a further âŹ54 million from the Government. Reports suggest that, once the present agreement expires, RTĂ could require an additional âŹ60 million to âŹ65 million from taxpayers in 2028 if licence revenue continues to fall. RTĂ says it is not requesting money beyond the existing agreement at present, but it has strongly appealed for another guaranteed multi annual deal to be negotiated in 2027.
The collapse in television licence payments remains at the centre of the crisis. Licence sales are now reported to be 19 per cent lower than they were in 2022. Only 299,373 licences were sold during the first five months of 2026, generating just under âŹ48 million and representing a further year on year fall of approximately 4.5 per cent. Separate Department figures indicate that television licence revenue fell by âŹ58.4 million in the two years following the RTĂ payments scandal, with 365,000 fewer licence transactions recorded compared with the previous two year period.
With fewer households paying the âŹ160 licence, renewed suggestions have emerged that it could eventually be replaced by a compulsory household broadcasting charge covering televisions, phones, laptops and other connected devices. That could mean households being required to fund public service broadcasting whether they watch RTĂ or not.
Supporters argue that RTĂ provides essential news, current affairs, Irish language, cultural and sporting coverage that commercial broadcasters could never fully replace. Critics say it remains an outdated, oversized organisation that has failed to regain public trust following the secret payments controversy, governance failures and years of financial mismanagement.
Has RTĂ genuinely reformed enough to deserve another taxpayer guarantee? Should people who never watch or listen to RTĂ be forced to fund it through a new household charge? Is the broadcaster an essential national institution, or is the Government simply pouring more public money into an organisation that has become financially unsustainable?
Niall asks CiarĂĄn Mullooly whether his former employer has earned another rescue package and whether Ireland would truly miss RTĂ if taxpayers finally refused to keep writing the cheques.
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Should Children Be Banned from Pubs and Beer Gardens?**
Niall speaks to callers after a listener contacted the show to say he and his wife were disgusted by what they witnessed during a visit to a large local bar.
The couple had gone out for dinner, but the beer garden was packed with families and young children. According to the listener, many of the children appeared bored, were running around unsupervised and were completely out of control, while heavily intoxicated adults shouted, swore and held conversations that were clearly unsuitable for children.
He claimed that many of the adults were not even eating and appeared to have been sitting in the beer garden drinking for hours, while their children were left to entertain themselves in what was effectively an outdoor drinking area.
The listener says he would never have brought his own children into that environment and believes children should be banned from licensed premises altogether. His view is simple: bring children to the park, the beach, a playground or a family restaurant, but not somewhere primarily designed for adults to consume alcohol.
But is that fair?
Many parents argue that pubs and beer gardens can be perfectly suitable for families, particularly during the day, provided children are supervised and adults behave responsibly. They say families should be able to enjoy a meal and a drink without being judged because of the behaviour of a minority.
Others believe the culture has gone too far and that some beer gardens have effectively become unofficial playgrounds while parents drink for hours and expect staff and other customers to tolerate badly behaved children.
Should children be banned from pubs after a certain time? Should licensed premises be allowed to introduce adult only areas? Or have some parents simply lost sight of where it is appropriate to bring young children?
Niall hears from callers on whether children belong in pubs and beer gardens, and whether responsible families are now being unfairly blamed for the behaviour of parents who have completely lost the run of themselves.
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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 OâGorman 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. Minister of State for Road Safety Sean Canney is also reported to be considering stricter rules, including mandatory registration, tax and insurance obligations similar to those placed on cars.
But is this common sense regulation, or another example of politicians encouraging a trend and then punishing the public when things go wrong?
There is an obvious irony in the Green Party, long associated with promoting electric transport and alternatives to cars, now calling for tougher restrictions on e-scooters. Supporters of regulation say these machines are not toys and that children are being seriously injured, with pedestrians and road users also put at risk. They argue that if e-scooters are being used on public roads, riders should face proper rules, enforcement and accountability.
Others say making e-scooters subject to tax, insurance and registration could destroy the very purpose of them: affordable, convenient and environmentally friendly transport. Would tougher laws protect children and pedestrians, or would they simply punish responsible users?
Should e-scooters and certain e-bikes be over-18s only? Should riders be licensed, taxed and insured like drivers? Or is this a heavy-handed response that will make cheap electric transport impossible for ordinary people?
Niall and Laura discuss safety, personal responsibility, political hypocrisy and whether Ireland needs tougher laws before more children are seriously injured.
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Should Every Government Service Be Forced to Accept Cash?
Niall speaks to AontĂș Senator Sarah OâReilly about her campaign against businesses, sporting venues and State services refusing to accept cash.
Senator OâReilly has strongly criticised the National Driver Licence Service, which does not accept cash, cheques or postal orders at its centres. Customers must instead pay using a debit or credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay or a Payzone voucher. She argues that it is astonishing for an essential public service operating on behalf of the State to continue refusing direct cash payments.
The Governmentâs National Payments Strategy, launched in October 2024, states that Government departments and bodies operating under their authority should accept both electronic and cash payments, or provide a way for people to facilitate a cash payment, when charging for public services, goods, fines or fees. Senator OâReilly argues that the NDLS policy makes a mockery of that commitment.
Niall asks whether requiring someone to purchase a Payzone voucher really amounts to accepting cash, or whether State agencies should be required to take notes and coins directly at the counter.
Senator OâReilly says the move towards a cashless society is discriminatory against older people, those without smartphones or reliable internet access, people who struggle with technology and citizens who do not have bank accounts. She argues that cash allows people to budget, protects privacy and gives everyone the ability to participate in society without relying on a bank or technology company.
She also raises serious concerns about victims of domestic abuse. Financial control is commonly used by abusers, including taking possession of a victimâs bank card, monitoring transactions or restricting access to an account. Cash can provide a degree of privacy and independence to someone attempting to escape a controlling relationship.
Irelandâs Finance (Provision of Access to Cash Infrastructure) Act 2025 came into operation on 30 June 2025. It is intended to protect reasonable access to ATMs and cash services and to preserve the resilience of the countryâs cash infrastructure. However, it does not create a general legal requirement for every shop, business or service provider to accept cash.
Although cash is legal tender, that does not automatically mean every business must accept it in every transaction. A business can generally refuse cash when it clearly tells customers in advance that another form of payment is required. The Central Bank says that where no restriction has been agreed or displayed, legal tender must normally be accepted to settle an existing debt.
But should different rules apply to essential public services funded or authorised by the State?
Niall asks Senator Sarah OâReilly whether cash acceptance should now be placed on a statutory footing, whether the Governmentâs policy is being ignored and whether refusing cash is excluding some of the most vulnerable people in society.
Should customers always have the right to choose between cash and card? Is refusing cash genuinely more efficient, or is it forcing people into a financial system that can monitor every purchase they make? And when the next major power cut, banking outage or worldwide technology failure occurs, will Ireland regret allowing cash to disappear?
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Not Suitable For Broadcast â "Dont Call me Darling!"
This week's episode of Not Suitable For Broadcast didn't quite go to plan⊠and it may just have turned out even better because of it!
With AJ Walsh away, Niall was faced with a dilemma. Cancel the show, or find someone brave enough to step into the hot seat. Enter his wife, Karen Boylan, who had never appeared on a radio show or podcast before. Thrown in at the deep, Karen proved to be a natural, bringing honesty, humour and plenty of opinions to the conversation. Could this be the beginning of a brand new husband and wife podcast?
Together, Niall and Karen tackle another packed week of headlines, asking whether Donald Trump should be welcomed to Ireland or protested against, whether the soaring cost of living is forcing people to leave the country, and if politicians have become too sensitive to criticism. They also debate the controversial proposal to classify miscarriage and abortion under the same term of "pregnancy loss", the growing calls for stricter regulation of e-scooters, and RTĂ's latest request for even more taxpayers' money.
The conversation also turns to Ireland's EU Presidency and Ursula von der Leyen's visit, the shocking murder investigation into Jamey Carney in Kerry, and they wrap things up with a lighter discussion about Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's awkward podcast confession involving Kylie Minogue.
It's an episode full of laughs, lively debate, unexpected chemistry and the kind of honest conversation that Not Suitable For Broadcast is becoming known for.
Was Karen a one-off stand in, or have Niall and Karen just stumbled upon the next podcast you didn't know you needed? Listen now and let us know what you think.
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