Podcast

Did We Get Covid Wrong? New Documents, Fauci, Wuhan and Ireland’s Covid Inquiry. On today’s podcast, Niall is joined by journalist John McGuirk from The Statement to discuss newly released White House documents that supporters of the lab leak theory say raise serious questions about Dr Anthony Fauci, US funding of coronavirus research in Wuhan, and whether people once dismissed as “conspiracy theorists” were written off too quickly during the Covid pandemic.

On this episode, Niall opens the phone lines to discuss whether mandatory retirement ages should become a thing of the past. The debate comes as new legislation has come into effect in Ireland giving many employees the right to refuse compulsory retirement before the State pension age of 66. Workers whose employment contracts require them to retire before 66 can now formally notify their employer that they wish to continue working. Employers must consider the request and can only refuse if they can objectively justify enforcing the retirement age. The changes are designed to give older workers greater choice and flexibility, while helping bridge the gap to the State pension.

A new Red C poll suggests that public attitudes towards Ireland’s border are changing, with more than a third of voters saying they would support the return of a hard border with Northern Ireland if it helped tackle illegal immigration. The findings come amid growing concern over claims that some asylum seekers are travelling into the Republic via Northern Ireland after first arriving in the UK, raising fresh questions about how Ireland protects its borders.

On today’s episode of The Niall Boylan Podcast, Niall is joined by podcaster and social commentator Elaine Mullally to debate one of the most controversial questions facing modern policing. Should Gardaí have the power to seize your mobile phone without first obtaining a search warrant if they reasonably believe it contains evidence of a serious crime?

On today’s episode of The Niall Boylan Podcast, Niall is joined by journalist and Aontú communications officer Larissa Nolan to debate whether wheel clamping has outlived its usefulness.

On this week’s News Round Up, Niall is joined by his good friend and former producer AJ Walsh to take a look back at the biggest stories making headlines over the past week, some deeply serious, others downright bizarre.

A new Department of Education survey has found that more than 73% of households with children attending single sex primary schools would like their school to become co educational. The findings come as the Government continues its policy of encouraging schools to reconfigure to mixed education where there is local demand, arguing that parents should have greater choice and that schools should better reflect modern Irish society.

TDs and Senators from across the political spectrum have recommended one of the biggest changes to Ireland’s drug laws in decades, calling for the possession of all illegal drugs for personal use to be fully decriminalised. The recommendation, contained in the final report of the Oireachtas Committee on Drugs Use, follows similar proposals made by the Citizens’ Assembly on Drug Use and argues that addiction should be treated primarily as a health issue rather than a criminal justice issue. The report also recommends expanding harm reduction services and moving Ireland further towards a health-led approach. In the past two days, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has confirmed the Government will give the recommendations “serious consideration”, while supporters including committee chair Gary Gannon and the Social Democrats say the current system has failed and that criminalising addiction only pushes vulnerable people further from treatment.

Ireland’s long-awaited Covid inquiry is finally underway, and already it is raising difficult questions. This week, Taoiseach Micheál Martin faced extensive questioning from the inquiry panel about the Government’s handling of the pandemic, but unlike the public inquiries seen in the UK and elsewhere, the interviews are being conducted behind closed doors. No transcripts will be published and the inquiry team has repeatedly stated that its role is not to “point fingers” or assign blame.