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

Niall talks to housing campaigner Peter Dooley about a proposal from Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne to put a constitutional right to housing before the Irish people.
Hearne is bringing forward a Bill using wording proposed by the Housing Commission, arguing that putting a right to housing into the Constitution would place a legal responsibility on the State to ensure people have access to adequate housing. He has said this could require stronger measures to prevent homelessness and evictions.
Supporters believe a secure and affordable home should be recognised as a basic right and that constitutional protection would force successive governments to take the housing crisis more seriously.
Critics question exactly what such a right would mean in practice, how far the State’s legal obligations could extend and whether the Constitution should guarantee housing rather than access to shelter and support. The Housing Commission itself did not reach unanimous agreement on the issue, with the Government previously describing it as complex.
Niall and Peter debate what a constitutional right to housing could actually mean for homeowners, renters, landlords and taxpayers.
Would you vote Yes to put a right to housing into the Constitution?

#895 Artificial Intelligence: Our Greatest Invention or Biggest Mistake?
Niall talks to Podcaster Nick Delahanty about the growing debate surrounding artificial intelligence and whether the technology is advancing faster than society can safely handle.
AI promises enormous benefits, from breakthroughs in medicine and education to major changes in business, productivity and everyday life. But with that progress come serious questions. Could artificial intelligence replace millions of jobs? Could it become powerful enough to shape the information people see, influence public opinion and decide which ideas or conversations are promoted or suppressed?
There are also concerns about who ultimately controls the technology. If the most powerful AI systems are owned by a small number of governments and multinational companies, how much influence could they have over society, politics, the media and even our understanding of reality?
Niall and Peter discuss the opportunities, the risks and whether regulation can realistically keep pace with a technology developing at extraordinary speed.
Should we embrace artificial intelligence and everything it could offer, or should we be genuinely worried about where it is taking us?

The Government is delivering 2.2 million copies of its new “Be Emergency Ready” booklet to households across Ireland, but is it sensible preparation for an uncertain world, or is it unnecessarily frightening the public?
Niall Boylan is joined by journalist John McGuirk to discuss the Government's so-called doomsday handbook, which advises households on how to prepare for emergencies, major disruptions and potential crises.
With taxpayers footing the bill for millions of booklets, Niall questions whether this is money well spent and asks why the Government feels the need to issue such advice now.
Some listeners have expressed genuine concern, wondering whether the Government knows something the rest of us don't. With ongoing international conflicts and growing tensions between world powers, is the threat of a wider war something we should seriously consider?
Are we right to be concerned about the possibility of World War Three, or are we allowing ourselves to worry about disasters that may never happen?
Niall and John discuss the booklet, the Government's intentions, public reaction and whether Ireland really needs to prepare for the worst.

Just when you thought there was nothing left to tax, along comes another charge on your online shopping!
Niall Boylan is joined by podcaster and restaurateur Paul Treyvaud to discuss new EU charges on goods ordered from outside the European Union, including popular websites such as Temu and Shein.
With a new €2 handling fee being added to existing customs charges, could cheap online bargains soon become a thing of the past?
Is this about protecting Irish and European businesses from unfair competition, or simply another way of squeezing more money out of hard-pressed consumers?
Niall and Paul debate whether these charges will encourage people to shop locally or simply punish families trying to save a few quid.

A listener has contacted the show with an admission most parents would probably be afraid to say out loud. She says she despises her own 14 year old daughter.
She describes a home filled with constant rows, disrespect and resentment. She says she has tried grounding her daughter, taking away her phone and laying down rules, but every time she attempts to discipline her, her husband steps in. He believes the punishments are too harsh and accuses her of treating their daughter differently from their other two children.
The listener says things have now reached breaking point. She admits she genuinely dislikes her daughter, feels miserable in her own home and believes the conflict is starting to destroy her marriage and affect the entire family.
In this episode, Niall talks to callers about one of the most uncomfortable parenting questions imaginable.
Can a parent simply reach the end of their tether with a difficult teenager, or is saying you despise your own child a sign that something has gone badly wrong in the relationship? Is the husband right to intervene, or is he undermining his wife and making the problem worse?
And perhaps most importantly, what do you do when love, anger, resentment and guilt all become tangled together inside the same family?
Niall hears from callers with their own experiences, opinions and advice for a mother who says she no longer knows how to live with her own daughter.