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

On this episode of The Niall Boylan Podcast, Niall is joined by social commentator Sandra Adams, Paul Treyvaud and secondary school teacher Eric Nelligan to discuss one of the most controversial proposals yet in the battle over children's online safety.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced sweeping new "Australia-plus" social media restrictions that would effectively ban under-16s from accessing major social media platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, YouTube and X. The plans would also introduce additional restrictions for older teenagers, including limits on late-night scrolling, possible social media curfews for 16 and 17-year-olds, and a ban on under-18s using romantic or sexual AI chatbots. To enforce the measures, age verification could require facial recognition technology, digital identity checks and official documents such as passports. Starmer described the proposals as "a real change for our children and our future" and said it was time to "call time on a system that's failing our kids", arguing that governments must stand with parents rather than leave families to battle powerful technology companies alone. According to the UK government, more than 90% of parents who responded to a recent consultation supported raising the minimum age for social media access to 16.
Supporters of the proposals say social media is damaging children's mental health, exposing them to harmful content, fuelling addiction and making it easier for online predators to target young people. They argue that governments have a duty to intervene where technology companies have failed to protect children.
Critics, however, warn that the measures could become the foundation of a wider digital ID system, requiring adults and children alike to prove their identity before accessing online services. Others question whether the restrictions will work at all, pointing to evidence from Australia that many young people have already found ways around similar bans. Some teachers have also raised concerns that students increasingly rely on platforms such as YouTube for educational content, exam revision and independent learning.
So where should the balance lie? Should governments have the power to decide what teenagers can access online? Is age verification a reasonable safeguard or an invasion of privacy? Are these measures genuinely about protecting children, or are they the beginning of much greater control over the internet?
Niall, Paul and Eric debate the benefits, the risks and the unintended consequences of one of the most far-reaching attempts yet to regulate life online.

On this episode of The Niall Boylan Podcast, Niall opens the lines to callers to discuss a controversial new proposal that could see owners of derelict properties hit with massive annual tax bills.
Finance Minister Simon Harris is bringing proposals to Cabinet for a new Derelict Property Tax that would replace the existing derelict sites levy and allow Revenue to collect the charge directly. Under the plan, owners of derelict properties could face an annual tax of at least 7% of the property's market value unless the building is renovated and brought back into use. The government says the move is necessary because local authorities have "badly failed" to enforce the current system and thousands of potentially usable properties remain vacant during Ireland's housing crisis. The new tax is expected to apply initially in more than 100 towns and cities across the country and will be backed by Revenue's enforcement powers. According to Simon Harris, property owners have a choice: bring the property back into use or face what he described as a "hefty tax". Latest estimates suggest there are almost 19,500 derelict residential properties across Ireland.
Supporters argue that with so many people struggling to buy or rent a home, it is unacceptable for thousands of properties to sit empty and deteriorate. They say owners have had years to act and that strong financial penalties are needed to force unused homes back onto the market.
Critics, however, see it as another attack on property rights. They point out that owners have already paid income tax on the money used to buy the property, paid stamp duty when purchasing it and continue to pay various property-related taxes. They argue that the State is now effectively imposing a recurring penalty simply because somebody chooses not to use their property in a way the government approves of.
For some owners, the bill could run into tens of thousands of euro every year. A property valued at €500,000 could face a charge of €35,000 annually under a 7% tax rate.
So where should the balance lie? Should the State have the power to financially punish people for leaving a property vacant? Is this a reasonable response to a housing emergency, or a dangerous precedent that undermines private property rights?
Niall asks callers: if you own something, should the government be able to tax you into using it, selling it or renovating it? Or is this exactly the kind of action needed to tackle Ireland's housing crisis?

Join Niall Boylan and his good friend and former producer AJ Walsh for their weekly catch-up as they take a look at some of the biggest, strangest and most talked-about stories making headlines this week. From the shocking stabbing in Belfast that left a man with life-changing injuries and sparked public disorder, to a car mysteriously ending up in the pond at St Stephen's Green, Niall and AJ discuss the stories that have dominated the news cycle and social media feeds over the past few days.
They also delve into some lighter moments, including a heartbroken gorilla in Japan that went viral after appearing to sit alone reflecting on an argument with his mate, and the reality TV couple from Married At First Sight Australia who found love with each other despite being matched with different partners on the show.
The conversation turns to more serious matters too, including a controversial new mortgage scheme that could allow first-time buyers to borrow up to five times their income, raising concerns that Ireland may be drifting back towards the risky lending practices of the Celtic Tiger era. They also discuss workplace bullying after a listener revealed she is considering confronting her husband's boss over the way he is being treated at work.
Niall and AJ debate Lewis Hamilton's call for limits on personal wealth despite being worth hundreds of millions himself, discuss the growing controversy around people becoming parents later in life following Jon Snow's Alzheimer's diagnosis, and explore a range of other stories that have divided opinion this week.
As always, expect plenty of laughs, strong opinions, lively debate and the kind of honest conversation that only comes from two friends who have spent years working together both on and off the air.

Social Democrats TD Sinéad Gibney has called for much stronger action against social media platforms, arguing that harmful and dangerous content is spreading online with little accountability. She has repeatedly criticised what she sees as failures by governments and regulators to properly control Big Tech and has advocated stronger regulation of online platforms and algorithms.
Now, in the wake of recent riots, violent protests and growing public disorder, a new debate has emerged. Some politicians argue that graphic videos showing assaults, stabbings, riots, street violence and criminal attacks are fuelling public anger, increasing tensions and helping to radicalise people online. They believe social media companies should be forced to remove violent content much faster and that regulators should have greater powers to compel platforms to take it down.
Others strongly disagree. They argue that these videos are often evidence of real events that the public has a right to see. They believe politicians are becoming increasingly uncomfortable with citizens witnessing crime, disorder and violence for themselves, rather than relying on filtered reports from mainstream media or official statements. Critics say that once governments gain the power to decide what people can and cannot see online, it becomes a slippery slope towards censorship.
On this episode of The Niall Boylan Podcast, Niall asks a simple but controversial question:
Should violent videos be removed from social media, or do people have a right to see what's really happening?
Is sharing graphic footage helping to expose reality, or is it making society more angry, divided and dangerous?
Where should the line be drawn between protecting the public and protecting free speech?
Join the conversation as callers share their views on one of the most important debates of the digital age.

The UK Government has announced plans to spend £3.7 billion on immigration enforcement over the next three years as it attempts to tackle illegal immigration, strengthen border security and speed up removals. The announcement comes amid growing public concern about migration levels and follows recent unrest in parts of the UK where immigration has become a major political issue.
But for people living on the island of Ireland, the debate raises a difficult question.
Some campaigners argue that if governments are serious about stopping illegal immigration, they cannot ignore the movement of people across the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic. They believe stronger checks and enforcement measures are needed, even if that means some inconvenience for travellers.
Others say that would be a huge step backwards. For decades, people have enjoyed the freedom to travel seamlessly between North and South for work, shopping, tourism, family visits and everyday life. They argue that reintroducing border checks would damage trade, hurt local communities and undermine one of the most important achievements of the peace process.
On this episode of The Niall Boylan Podcast, Niall asks:
If tighter border controls reduced illegal immigration, would you be willing to sacrifice the freedom to travel freely between Northern Ireland and the Republic?
Would occasional checkpoints, passport checks or border controls be a reasonable price to pay for greater security?
Or is the open border simply too important to risk, regardless of the immigration challenges governments are facing?
Is there a way to secure borders without disrupting the lives of ordinary people?
Join Niall and callers from both sides of the border as they debate one of the most divisive political issues facing Ireland and the UK today.