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

On this episode of the podcast, Niall is joined by economist and Sunday Times Ireland columnist Cormac Lucey to debate one of the most divisive housing proposals in years, a move by the Labour Party to ban “no fault” evictions for three years during the housing crisis.
Labour housing spokesperson Conor Sheehan says evictions should no longer be “a routine feature of a broken housing system”, but critics argue the Government has already gone too far in stripping rights away from landlords.
The discussion comes as Ireland’s homelessness figures continue to hit shocking new records. Latest figures show more than 17,300 people are now living in emergency accommodation across the country, including over 5,500 children. ()
Niall and Cormac also examine the Government’s recently introduced six year tenancy legislation, which came into effect in March 2026. Under the new rules, many renters now receive minimum six year tenancy protections, while larger landlords face severe restrictions on ending tenancies without specific legal grounds. ()
Supporters say the changes are badly needed to give renters stability and stop families being thrown out of their homes through no fault of their own. Landlords, however, warn that tighter controls and growing restrictions are pushing more property owners out of the rental market entirely, reducing supply and driving rents even higher.
With eviction notices rising sharply and thousands of landlords reportedly leaving the market, the question becomes:
Are stronger tenant protections the answer to Ireland’s housing emergency, or are Government policies making the crisis even worse? ()
Niall and Cormac Lucey debate the economics, the politics and the human cost behind Ireland’s spiralling rental and homelessness crisis.

On this episode of the podcast, Niall talks to callers about growing calls to ban alcohol in airports and on planes after Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary said drunken passengers are causing mayhem in the skies.
For years airlines have dealt with aggressive passengers, abuse directed at cabin crew, mid air fights, emergency landings and diverted flights, all linked to excessive drinking before boarding or during flights.
Michael O’Leary says the problem is getting worse and believes airports and airlines need to take stronger action against what many now call “pre flight binge drinking culture”.
But would banning alcohol in airports and on planes go too far?
Many callers argue that the vast majority of passengers enjoy a quiet pint or glass of wine responsibly before a holiday and should not be punished because of a minority who can’t handle their drink.
Others say flying has become unbearable, with loud drunken behaviour, arguments, intimidation and anti social behaviour becoming far too common on flights across Europe.
Some even compared it to smoking bans introduced years ago.
Smoking was once seen as part of the flying experience until it became clear it negatively affected other passengers.
So should alcohol now face similar restrictions?
Niall asks:
Is it finally time to ban alcohol in airports and on planes?
Or is this another example of punishing responsible people because of a badly behaved minority?
The callers strongly disagree.

On this episode, Niall speaks to journalist David Quinn about new figures from the Central Statistics Office showing that Ireland’s marriage rate has fallen to one of the lowest levels ever recorded, with just 3.8 marriages per 1,000 people in 2024, down from 4.8 a decade ago. The total number of marriages has also fallen by almost 8% since 2014. ()
David Quinn describes the figures as “a true social disaster unfolding in front of our eyes”, arguing that the collapse in marriage rates reflects a deeper breakdown in commitment, family stability and long term social cohesion.
But many callers disagree.
With more couples choosing to cohabit instead of marry, and with changing attitudes around relationships and family life, some argue that marriage is no longer essential. Others say you don’t need a ring, a church or a legal document to prove commitment or raise a happy family.
Niall asks:
Has marriage simply become outdated in modern Ireland?
Or are these figures a warning sign that something important is being lost?
The conversation also looks at the rising age people are getting married in Ireland, with the average groom now aged 37.7 and the average bride 35.9. ()
A lively and thought provoking debate on love, commitment, modern relationships and the changing face of Irish society.

On this episode, Niall discusses a fiery email from a Dublin woman who says the “dream home” she and her husband worked years to afford is slowly being ruined by inconsiderate neighbours.
The woman, who lives in what she describes as a mature and upmarket tree lined estate in Dublin, says the tone of the area has changed dramatically since a new couple moved in next door three months ago.
Her main complaint centres around two filthy commercial painting and decorating vans parked permanently in the front garden of the neighbouring property. She says the vans are “ugly”, destroy the appearance of the picturesque street and lower the overall standard of the neighbourhood.
But the email goes much further.
She describes the neighbours as “undesirable”, claims their children are “feral” and says she actively keeps her own children away from them because she believes they are a bad influence. She also admits she questioned how the couple could even afford the home and speculates that the woman may be on welfare or receiving rent support.
After approaching the neighbours and asking them to park the vans elsewhere, she says she was met with hostility and told to mind her own business. Since then she has contacted the residents association, Gardaí and the local council but says nobody is willing or able to help.
Her husband believes she should just leave it alone, but she says the issue is making her life miserable and insists many people who work hard to buy homes in nice areas secretly feel the same way.
The email sparked huge debate among callers.
Some agreed with her, arguing that people should respect the appearance of residential estates and that commercial vehicles, overflowing driveways and neglected homes can damage the look and even the value of an area.
Others were far more critical, accusing the woman of being deeply snobbish, classist and judgmental towards working class families.
So where do you stand?
Is she entitled to protect the character of the area she paid dearly to live in?
Or is this exactly the kind of middle class arrogance that divides communities?
A heated debate about class, neighbours, property pride and modern suburban life in Ireland.

In this episode, Niall opens the lines to callers on a story that’s raising serious questions about law, fairness, and public safety.
A specialist firearms Garda attached to the Armed Support Unit has been hit with 17 separate speeding notices while responding to emergency call-outs. Covering a wide منطقه from Waterford to Kilkenny, the unit regularly deals with high-risk incidents including hostage situations and armed threats.
Despite using blue lights and sirens, automatic speed cameras on routes like the N25 have still issued fines, forcing the officer to formally justify every single incident just to avoid penalty points on his personal licence.
Garda representatives say this is creating a culture of fear, where officers worry that simply doing their job could cost them their licence, their livelihood, and impact their family life. There are also concerns about limited pursuit training and a lack of clear legal protections for Garda drivers.
Now, calls are growing for a new system, similar to the Defence Forces, where Gardaí would have a separate driving certification when operating patrol vehicles.
But not everyone agrees.
Many will argue the law is the law. If an ordinary driver is caught speeding, there are consequences. So why should anyone, even emergency services, be treated differently?
Niall puts the question directly to you:
Should Gardaí be given exemptions when responding to emergencies… or should the same rules apply to everyone, no matter the circumstances?
Is this about protecting those who protect us… or creating a dangerous double standard?
Have your say as callers join the debate.