#472 Child Benefit: Fair for All or Just for Some?
In this episode, Niall opens the lines to discuss a hot-button issue: Child Benefit. Currently set at €140 a month per child and paid universally—regardless of income—this payment also increases for twins, triplets, and other multiple births. But should wealthier families earning over €100,000 a year still receive it? Or should that money be redirected to boost payments for low-income families instead?Callers from all walks of life join the conversation, sharing their pros and cons.Example Pros discussed:Redirecting funds could provide greater support to families who need it most.Means-testing might make the system fairer and more efficient.Savings could be reinvested into child welfare services.Example Cons discussed:Universal payments are simple to administer and avoid complex bureaucracy.Means-testing could create stigma or discourage parents from working more hours.All parents contribute to the tax system, so all should benefit.From fairness and efficiency to equality and practicality, Niall and his callers dig deep into what Child Benefit should look like in modern Ireland.
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1:09:56
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1:09:56
#471 Ban Drink Drivers For Ten Years?
In this powerful episode, Niall sits down with Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín to discuss the tragic case of nine-year-old Harvey Morrison Sherratt, who died at the end of July after waiting years for a scoliosis operation. Peadar outlines the failures in Ireland’s healthcare system that left Harvey without the care he desperately needed and explains why he is calling for then–Health Minister Simon Harris to resign over the tragedy.After this hard-hitting interview, Niall shifts the conversation to another pressing issue: drink driving. He asks whether Ireland should increase the driving ban for offenders to ten years and reduce the legal blood alcohol limit to zero. Callers from across the country join the debate, offering a range of opinions.Example Pros discussed:A zero blood alcohol limit removes all ambiguity, making the law clear and enforceable.A 10-year ban could act as a powerful deterrent, potentially saving lives on the roads.Stricter penalties could help shift cultural attitudes toward drink driving.Example Cons discussed:Some argue a zero limit could unfairly penalise drivers with tiny, harmless traces from medicine or food.A 10-year ban might be seen as excessive for first-time, low-level offenders.Strict measures could overwhelm the courts and enforcement systems.From healthcare accountability to road safety, this episode blends compassion, controversy, and hard questions—exactly what Niall’s listeners have come to expect.
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54:07
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54:07
#470 Only Fans, Empowerment or Embarrassment?
When a distressed parent emails Niall about her 20-year-old daughter joining OnlyFans, the phone lines light up. In the studio, Niall is joined by Samaria — an OnlyFans creator and performer — to unpack the controversy.Callers share raw, unfiltered views:Some say it’s empowering for women to control their image, set their own prices, and earn financial independence without traditional job constraints.Others see it as a dangerous path, opening the door to online harassment, long-term reputational harm, and the emotional toll of sex work.Supporters argue that stigma is outdated and that consenting adults should be free to earn however they choose.Critics warn about exploitation, objectification, and how such choices might impact relationships with family and future partners.From moral outrage to arguments about autonomy, the debate dives deep into whether platforms like OnlyFans represent liberation, desperation, or something in between — and how parents can navigate it when it’s their own child at the centre.
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1:12:02
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1:12:02
#469 Fluency or Folly? Irish in the Classroom
In this episode, Niall puts the question to listeners — and to guest Karl Deeter — whether more investment in the Irish language is money well spent. The conversation kicks off with Deputy Ryan O’Meara’s proposal for a mandatory Gaeltacht course for all Leaving Cert students, aimed at boosting fluency and transforming attitudes towards Irish.Callers weigh in with a range of views:One argues that a Gaeltacht experience could make Irish feel alive rather than just an academic subject.Another says spending more is pointless when most students forget the language after school.A third insists that the Irish language is part of our identity and worth preserving at any cost.A fourth warns that forcing students into a Gaeltacht stay will only breed more resentment.From cultural pride to practical concerns, Niall and Karl hear it all in a lively debate on whether the future of the Irish language should come with a bigger price tag.
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53:25
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53:25
#467 What Does Irish Mean. Are we loosing Our identity?
In this thought-provoking episode, Niall speaks with the author of a recent article that questions the direction of Ireland’s education system—and, more broadly, our national identity. The discussion focuses on the updated early years curriculum Aistear, which curiously credits babies as participants in its development, and introduces the idea of raising “agentic global citizens.”Are we losing sight of what it means to be Irish? Is our cultural heritage being diluted in the name of inclusivity and ideology? Niall also takes calls from the public to hear their views on Irishness today: from concerns about the role of Catholicism in schools, to the growing influence of globalist thinking in Irish education.Are we still raising Irish citizens—or just citizens of everywhere?Join the conversation and ask yourself: What does it mean to be Irish in 2025?
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