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

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.

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.

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.