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

In this episode, Niall talks to Sandra Adams, advocate for women’s sex-based rights, child safeguarding and fact-based education, about the reported plan to classify both miscarriage and abortion under the same heading of “pregnancy loss” for the purposes of paid leave.
The proposal has opened up a difficult and deeply sensitive debate. Supporters say this is about compassion, privacy and dignity in the workplace. They argue that women should not be forced to explain to an employer whether a pregnancy ended through miscarriage or abortion in order to access time off. Both can involve physical recovery, emotional distress and a need for privacy.
But Sandra Adams strongly objects to the classification. She argues that miscarriage and abortion are not the same thing and should not be treated as though they are. A miscarriage is the involuntary loss of a pregnancy, while abortion, in elective cases, is the intentional ending of one. Sandra believes placing both under the same neutral administrative term blurs an important moral, emotional and factual distinction.
Niall asks whether this is a compassionate workplace policy or whether language is being used to deliberately soften and sanitise abortion. Should paid leave be available in both cases without asking women to disclose deeply private medical details? Or does calling both miscarriage and abortion “pregnancy loss” ignore the very real difference between losing a baby and choosing to end a pregnancy?
This is a conversation about language, truth, women’s rights, workplace compassion, abortion, miscarriage and whether the State should treat both situations the same when it comes to paid leave.

In this episode, Niall talks to Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín about Aontú’s Private Members’ Bill aimed at stopping planned fuel tax increases due on August 1st.
Aontú says the bill is designed to block Government plans that could see petrol rise by 27 cent per litre and diesel by 32 cent per litre when temporary excise cuts expire. The party is also calling for a halt to further carbon tax increases, arguing that ordinary families, workers, farmers, hauliers and small businesses are already being crushed by the cost of living.
Peadar Tóibín says Ireland has become one of the most expensive countries in the EU for essentials such as housing, health, alcohol and electricity, and argues that Government policy is making daily life even harder for people who need their cars for work, school, shopping and family life. Aontú’s “Reduce the Cost of Living” motion also takes aim at rising prices across fuel, electricity, groceries and public charging points, warning that families cannot keep absorbing extra costs while wages fail to keep pace.
Niall asks the bigger question. What is the real solution to Ireland’s cost of living crisis? Retailers, restaurants, hotels, fuel suppliers and service providers are charging prices many people simply cannot afford, but they are unlikely to cut those prices voluntarily. Should Government intervene more directly? Should taxes be cut? Should wages rise, or would that simply push prices even higher again?
As more people ask whether Ireland is becoming unaffordable for ordinary workers and families, Niall and Peadar discuss fuel taxes, carbon taxes, wages, business costs, Government policy and whether Ireland is reaching a point where people simply cannot afford to live here anymore.

In this episode, Niall is joined by Senator Sharon Keogan to discuss a new Women for Election report which claims women in Irish politics are facing widespread online abuse, sexualised harassment and threats of violence.
The report, titled Recognize, Resist, Rise Up, was part of a five country European study on gender based violence against women in politics. It found that 96% of female TDs and Senators surveyed said they had experienced online violence, 88% reported psychological violence, 71% said they had received threats targeting themselves or people close to them, 63% reported sexualised violence and 42% reported physical violence or threats involving specific weapons. The research also found that many women had changed how they use social media, with some avoiding comment sections, delegating accounts to staff or reducing their online presence altogether.
Niall asks whether these figures reflect a serious and growing threat to democracy, or whether the definition of online violence has become too broad. All threats of violence should be condemned without hesitation, but do people believe that 96% of women in politics have genuinely been threatened, or is there a difference between abuse, insults, harassment and credible threats?
Some will argue that online abuse has become an ugly part of modern politics, and that anyone who enters public life needs to develop a thick skin. Others will say that threats, sexualised abuse and intimidation are not part of the job, and that no politician, male or female, should be expected to tolerate it.
Niall and Senator Keogan discuss whether public representatives are now expected to absorb abuse as the price of speaking out, whether social media has made politics more hostile, and whether the problem is especially severe for women in public life.
If you were a politician, would you accept verbal abuse as part of the job, or has public debate crossed a dangerous line?

In this episode, Niall is joined by election candidate and podcaster Nick Delehanty to discuss Donald Trump’s proposed visit to Ireland for the Irish Open at Doonbeg this September.
Trump’s possible arrival has already divided opinion. Sinn Féin TD Louise O’Reilly has said she is more likely to be with the protesters than welcoming him, pointing to objections over his relationship with Israel. Cian O’Callaghan TD, from the Social Democrats, has described Trump as “the worst possible representation of the States” and predicted large protests if he comes.
But is this really about principle, or political theatre? Niall and Nick ask whether Ireland should protest the visit of a sitting US President, or whether the country should recognise the importance of the Irish American relationship, tourism, diplomacy, and American investment in Ireland. With US companies employing hundreds of thousands of people here, should Ireland be careful about how it treats one of its most powerful international partners?
Should Trump’s visit be opposed because of his politics, foreign policy and polarising public image? Or should Ireland welcome him respectfully, even if many strongly disagree with him?
Will the streets be filled with protesters, or will it be a handful of activists with angry placards? And should this be treated as an official state visit, or simply a private visit to a golf tournament?

It's that time of the week again as Niall Boylan is joined by his former producer and good friend AJ Walsh to break down the biggest stories making headlines in Ireland and around the world.
This week, they discuss Metallica's generous €80,000 donation to Irish charities during their Dublin visit, RTÉ's decision to make dozens of presenters employees after the bogus self employment controversy, fuel prices as excise duty changes begin to take effect, and the US Supreme Court's decision to uphold birthright citizenship in a major setback for Donald Trump.
They also examine the bizarre Empire State Building marriage proposal that divided the internet, the guilty verdict in the horrific Parnell Square knife attack, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to Dublin as Ireland begins its EU Presidency, and growing calls for tougher border controls following new polling on immigration and the Irish border.
As always, expect plenty of laughs, strong opinions, behind the scenes stories from decades in broadcasting, and the kind of lively conversation that regularly disappears down unexpected rabbit holes.
Whether you agree with them or not, this is a fast paced, entertaining look at the week's biggest talking points that you won't want to miss.