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

Ireland is facing a population crisis as birth rates continue to fall, raising serious questions about the country's economic future, ageing population and who will support the next generation of pensioners.
RTÉ’s new documentary series Ireland’s Population Crash, presented by Miriam O’Callaghan, explores why Irish people are having fewer children and what the consequences could be. Miriam, herself a mother of eight, admits she once worried about overpopulation but now believes she has more than done her bit!
In this episode, Niall is joined by economist and financial commentator Karl Deeter to discuss whether Ireland is heading towards a demographic disaster.
With birth rates well below replacement level, the Government sees immigration as part of the solution. But is relying on immigration a sustainable long-term strategy? What happens if some new arrivals require significant State support rather than immediately contributing more in taxes than they receive in services? And are high housing costs, childcare expenses and the cost of living making it increasingly difficult for Irish couples to afford children?
Niall and Karl examine the economic realities behind Ireland’s declining birth rate, the pressures on pensions, healthcare and social housing, and whether successive governments have failed to make raising a family affordable.
Is immigration the answer to Ireland’s population crash, or should the Government be doing far more to encourage people already living here to have children? And who will pay the bills when Ireland grows old?
A thought-provoking discussion about Ireland’s demographic future and the difficult decisions facing the country.

RTÉ Wants The Public To Come Up With Ideas For Its Future. Isn't That What We Pay The Executives For?**
RTÉ is asking the Irish public to help shape its future, with research company Ipsos conducting an online survey seeking suggestions on how the national broadcaster can improve its services.
But after years of controversy, financial scandals, declining public confidence and continued questions about how taxpayers' money is spent, is RTÉ now admitting it doesn't know how to fix itself?
In this episode, Niall is joined by journalist and broadcaster Ken Murray to discuss whether RTÉ needs genuine reform or a complete overhaul.
With executives and high-profile presenters earning substantial salaries, Niall asks why the people being paid to run the national broadcaster appear to be turning to the public for fresh ideas. Shouldn't developing a vision for RTÉ's future be part of their job?
Is RTÉ delivering value for money? Has it lost touch with ordinary Irish people? Is there enough political balance and diversity of opinion in its news and current affairs coverage? And should taxpayers continue funding a broadcaster that so many believe needs radical change?
Niall and Ken examine whether RTÉ can regain public trust, whether its management structure needs reform and what a modern public service broadcaster should actually look like.
If you were handed the keys to RTÉ tomorrow, what would you change? Would you cut executive salaries, scrap certain programmes, reform its news coverage, reduce public funding or privatise parts of the organisation?
And perhaps the biggest question of all: If RTÉ's highly paid executives need the public to tell them how to run the broadcaster, what exactly are we paying them for?
A lively discussion about the future of Ireland's national broadcaster and whether RTÉ can ever win back the confidence of the Irish public.

In this episode, Niall Boylan takes calls from listeners about a relationship dilemma that raises an interesting question. Can you have a happy, committed relationship without ever living together?
A woman who has been dating a man for several months says they're both divorced, get on brilliantly and genuinely enjoy each other's company. But there's a problem. He's beginning to hint that they should move in together, and she's not sure she wants that.
Having already been married, she's built a comfortable, independent life and has no desire to go back to cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, organising appointments and effectively becoming a housekeeper for another grown man.
She loves the companionship, the romance and the freedom of having her own space. But is it fair to expect a committed relationship while refusing to share a home?
Niall asks whether women, particularly those who have already raised families and been through divorce, are becoming less willing to sacrifice their independence for a relationship. Or is this woman unfairly assuming that moving in with a man automatically means taking responsibility for looking after him?
Is she protecting her independence, or does she simply want all the benefits of a relationship without the compromises?
And what about the man? Is he entitled to expect that a serious relationship will eventually lead to living together?
Niall hears from callers on both sides of the debate, including those who believe couples are happier living apart and others who argue that sharing a home is an important part of building a future together.
Would you move in with a new partner later in life, or have you reached an age where you simply couldn't be bothered living with someone else?
Is living apart the secret to a happy relationship, or is it just being single with benefits?

In this episode, Niall Boylan is joined by Independent Councillor Noel Thomas and Dr Cathal Berry, former Independent TD and retired Army officer, to debate one of the most contentious issues surrounding Ireland's foreign policy, the Triple Lock and the Government's plans to reform it.
Under the current system, deploying more than 12 Irish Defence Forces personnel on overseas missions requires approval from the Government, Dáil Éireann and a UN mandate. The Government wants to remove the requirement for UN authorisation, but could this fundamentally change Ireland's traditional policy of military neutrality?
Critics argue that removing the Triple Lock risks undermining Irish neutrality and could open the door to greater military involvement in international conflicts. Supporters insist that the current system gives permanent members of the UN Security Council, including Russia and China, an effective veto over Ireland's participation in certain peacekeeping missions.
But is Ireland genuinely neutral in the first place, or is Irish neutrality more complicated than many people realise?
Niall hears from both guests and invites listeners to have their say. Should Ireland retain the Triple Lock, or is it time to remove the UN approval requirement and give the Irish Government greater freedom to decide where our troops serve?
**If the decision were put to a referendum, how would you vote? Would you retain the Triple Lock or support its removal?

SHOULD GRANDPARENTS ASK PERMISSION BEFORE HUGGING THEIR GRANDCHILDREN?
In this episode, Niall talks to Eddie Punch about the latest government funded campaign, “We Consent,” which has sparked a heated debate about affection, personal boundaries and whether we're taking things a little too far.
The advert features grandparents arriving to visit their grandchildren. While their grandson happily welcomes them with a hug, their granddaughter refuses, appearing almost uncomfortable when they reach out to embrace her.
The message? Even grandparents should respect a child's right to say no to a hug.
Some people are applauding the campaign for teaching children about consent and bodily autonomy. Others think it's another example of political correctness gone mad, with one online commentator declaring, “She won't hug her lovely grandparents because she's woke.”
Niall and Eddie ask whether we're turning perfectly innocent displays of family affection into something unnecessarily complicated. Is this an important lesson about children's boundaries, or another questionable use of taxpayers' money?
Should grandparents really have to ask permission to hug their own grandchildren? And have we become so obsessed with consent that we're taking the warmth out of family relationships?
Niall and Eddie debate the issue and ask whether this campaign is money well spent or simply over the top.