Podcast

Niall talks to journalist Laura Perrins about Budget 2027 and asks whether it will actually make any meaningful difference to households struggling with the relentless rise in the cost of living. Every year we hear about tax cuts, credits, welfare increases and new Government supports, yet for many people the bills keep rising faster than the help arriving. Electricity, heating, groceries, rent, mortgages, insurance and childcare continue to swallow more of our income.

Niall talks to Cormac Lucey, economics commentator with The Sunday Times Ireland, about growing concern that Ireland is becoming increasingly unaffordable for its own young people. New figures from the National Youth Council make for stark reading. Some 68% of young adults say they are considering leaving Ireland in search of a better quality of life, while 90% believe secure, well-paid work is becoming harder to find and 89% say the housing crisis is hitting young people disproportionately hard.

Niall talks to callers about the death penalty following the disturbing case of Christa Pike, who is reportedly critically ill in hospital after an attempt by the state of Tennessee to execute her went badly wrong.

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

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.

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.

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?

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.