Podcasts

The number of sexual offence cases entering Ireland’s courts has risen significantly over the past two years, reigniting the debate about whether people accused of these crimes should remain anonymous until they are convicted.

Ireland is officially in the middle of a housing emergency, with thousands of people struggling to buy or rent a home. Yet another proposed apartment development has been stopped over concerns about its impact on people already living nearby.

Niall speaks to Aontú Senator Sarah O’Reilly about her campaign against businesses, sporting venues and State services refusing to accept cash. Senator O’Reilly has strongly criticised the National Driver Licence Service, which does not accept cash, cheques or postal orders at its centres. Customers must instead pay using a debit or credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay or a Payzone voucher. She argues that it is astonishing for an essential public service operating on behalf of the State to continue refusing direct cash payments.

Niall speaks to callers after a listener contacted the show to say he and his wife were disgusted by what they witnessed during a visit to a large local bar. The couple had gone out for dinner, but the beer garden was packed with families and young children. According to the listener, many of the children appeared bored, were running around unsupervised and were completely out of control, while heavily intoxicated adults shouted, swore and held conversations that were clearly unsuitable for children.

Niall speaks to callers and former RTÉ correspondent, now Independent Ireland MEP Ciarán Mullooly, about the national broadcaster’s demand for another guaranteed, multi annual Government funding package when its current arrangement ends in 2027.

This week’s episode of Not Suitable For Broadcast didn’t quite go to plan… and it may just have turned out even better because of it! With AJ Walsh away, Niall was faced with a dilemma. Cancel the show, or find someone brave enough to step into the hot seat. Enter his wife, Karen Boylan, who had never appeared on a radio show or podcast before. Thrown in at the deep, Karen proved to be a natural, bringing honesty, humour and plenty of opinions to the conversation. Could this be the beginning of a brand new husband and wife podcast?

In this episode, Niall looks at the Government’s latest crackdown on vaping, and asks whether this is a sensible public health measure or another example of the nanny state treating adults like children. The Public Health (Single-Use Vapes) Bill 2025 has now passed through both Houses of the Oireachtas, paving the way for a ban on the sale of disposable vapes in Ireland. Once the law is commenced, retailers are expected to be given six months to sell off existing stock before enforcement begins. After that, health enforcement officers will be able to carry out inspections to make sure single-use vapes are no longer being sold.

In this episode, Niall talks to journalist John McGuirk about a question that goes right to the heart of Irish identity: does becoming an Irish citizen automatically make someone Irish? The debate follows a wider conversation about citizenship, nationality, belonging and what it really means to be part of a country. According to official Dáil figures, **100,471 certificates of naturalisation were issued in Ireland between 2021 and 2025**. That included **10,490 in 2021, 14,249 in 2022, 19,464 in 2023, 29,868 in 2024 and 26,400 in 2025**. The latest citizenship ceremonies took place in **Killarney on 22 and 23 June 2026**, where around **4,600 people from more than 139 countries** were due to become Irish citizens.

Niall Boylan is joined by former journalist Larissa Nolan to ask a question that always sparks strong memories and strong opinions: what was the best time in Ireland to grow up? Was it the Ireland of the 60s, 70s or 80s, where children played on the streets, neighbours looked out for each other and family and community seemed stronger? Or was that Ireland far tougher than we sometimes remember, with less money, fewer opportunities, harsher schools and a society where many people had little freedom or choice?