In this fiery and funny episode of Niall Talks, Niall sits down with Larissa Nolan, journalist with the Irish Mirror, to dig into her provocative new column: “Forget spoiling votes or re-running the election — let’s get rid of the role of president altogether.”

As the country gears up for another expensive, drama-filled presidential race, Larissa argues it might be time to ask the unthinkable — do we even need a president at all?

She says the office has become an outdated, €30 million vanity project — a “political deathmatch” every seven years for a ceremonial role that was originally created just to prove the Brits wrong. From its symbolic origins in the Vice-Regal Lodge to the endless parade of candidates fighting for a job with “all the glory and none of the responsibility,” Larissa isn’t holding back.

Niall and Larissa debate what the presidency actually does for the people of Ireland — if anything — and whether it’s time to scrap the whole thing and spend that money elsewhere.

After the chat, Niall opens the lines to callers for a lively national conversation:

👉 Should Ireland keep the role of President?

👉 Is it a vital symbol of unity — or just an expensive relic?

👉 And if we got rid of it… what would we replace it with?

Expect sharp opinions, big laughs, and maybe a few constitutional headaches.

In this week’s episode of Niall Talks, Niall sits down with psychotherapist and author Stella O’Malley — alongside live callers — to unpack one of the most talked-about new proposals coming from Brussels: the EU’s LGBTIQ+ Equality Strategy 2026–2030.

The European Commission’s draft plan aims to reshape gender recognition laws across all 27 member states. Under the proposed framework, children could legally choose their gender at any age, without medical assessments, therapy, or parental consent — and countries that refuse to comply could face EU sanctions.

Supporters say it’s a bold step forward for human rights and equality. Critics warn it could erode parental rights, undermine child safeguarding, and outlaw essential therapy.

Together, Niall and Stella explore the social, psychological, and ethical implications of these sweeping changes — from what “self-identification” really means for children, to how far the EU should go in enforcing uniform gender policies across diverse nations.

Listeners call in to share their own views, experiences, and fears — making for an honest, often emotional discussion on one of Europe’s most divisive new proposals.

⚖️ The Pros and Cons of the Proposed Law

Pros:

Equality and inclusion: Ensures all individuals — regardless of age — can express their gender identity freely, aligning with human rights principles.

Removes medical gatekeeping: Ends the need for medical or psychological approval before legal recognition, supporting autonomy and reducing stigma.

EU-wide consistency: Harmonizes gender recognition laws across member states, preventing discrimination based on geography.

Human rights compliance: Reflects rulings from the European Court of Human Rights against forced medical procedures for gender changes.

Cons:

Parental rights concerns: Removes parents from critical decisions about their children’s identity and medical trajectory.

Safeguarding risks: Bans on exploratory therapy may limit professionals’ ability to help children who are uncertain or distressed about their gender.

Potential for regret: Without assessment or age thresholds, young people may make irreversible choices before full maturity.

National sovereignty issues: Threats of EU sanctions could be seen as overreach into member states’ cultural and legal autonomy.

Impact on women’s and sex-based rights: Critics argue self-ID without limits could affect privacy, safety, and fairness in female-only spaces and sports.

In this episode, Niall talks to Sarah Ryan and a range of callers about an emotional email from Ann, a single mother in Ballyfermot, who says her 15-year-old son keeps getting stopped by the Gardaí when he’s just out with his friends.

She believes it’s not about what they’re doing — but where they’re from. Ann says if her son lived in Blackrock or Malahide, it wouldn’t happen.

So today we’re asking — is it fair for Gardaí to stop and question teenagers in areas with higher levels of anti-social behaviour?

Is this smart policing, or unfair profiling?

And if Gardaí are profiling, is that ever justified in the name of public safety?

Join the conversation as Niall, Sarah, and listeners across Ireland debate one of the country’s most sensitive community issues — trust, class, and policing.