Niall talks to TD Paul Lawless from Aontu about the latest on Board Bia.

Also: This Valentine’s Day episode dives into the romance, the history — and the debate — around one of the most loved (and sometimes eye-rolled) dates on the calendar.

Niall explores the origins of Valentine’s Day, from the story of St Valentine — the Roman priest said to have secretly married couples — to the medieval poets who linked mid-February with romance. He also looks at how the celebration evolved into today’s highly commercial event, fuelled by mass-produced cards in the 19th century and later by florists, confectionery companies and big retail marketing.

And that leads to tonight’s talking point. A listener has been in touch to say his friend never buys his wife anything for Valentine’s Day and feels a hug and the words “I love you” are enough for her. She doesn’t feel quite as satisfied by his actions as he does. He believes the whole thing is ridiculous and overly commercialised, and that you don’t need flowers, cards or chocolates to show someone you love them.

So — is he right, or is he just being mean and a bit tight?

Niall asks whether Valentine’s Day gestures really matter, if romance has become too commercial, and what actually makes people feel loved — grand gestures, small tokens, or simply sincere words.

In this episode, Niall opens the lines to discuss the growing controversy around possible industrial action by rank-and-file gardaí. Their representative body has voted to withdraw voluntary overtime during the St Patrick’s festival amid an ongoing dispute over pay, allowances and what they say are long-promised agreements that haven’t been honoured. Garda representatives argue frustration has built up after repeated delays, lack of engagement from government departments and concerns about working conditions — while the move could create policing shortages at major public events and even raise questions ahead of Ireland’s upcoming EU Presidency commitments.

Niall asks callers the big question: Should essential public services like gardaí, nurses, teachers, transport workers and government staff have the same right to strike as other workers — or should limits apply because of the critical role they play? Listeners weigh up workers’ rights, public safety, fair pay, and how governments should handle disputes before they escalate.

This week, host Niall is joined by social commentator AJ Walshe for a thoughtful — and at times uncomfortable — conversation sparked by a powerful listener email. The discussion centres on a recent anonymous love-story featured on RTÉ’s Brendan O’Connor Show, where a married man in his 50s reflected on a secret same-sex relationship from decades ago and the complicated emotions that still linger.

But not everyone sees these stories as uplifting. A female listener wrote in angrily, saying her own husband left her for a man three years ago and she’s frustrated by what she feels is a one-sided narrative celebrating men who come out later in life, while the wives and families affected are often overlooked. Her question is stark: is it fair to applaud these men without acknowledging the hurt caused to partners who feel their lives were built on a secret?

Niall and AJ explore both sides — the social pressures and stigma that kept many older gay men silent for decades, alongside the very real pain experienced by spouses caught up in those hidden struggles. They ask the difficult question: should we feel sympathy for older gay men who felt trapped in long-term marriages, or are we sometimes minimising the impact on the partners they leave behind?

Expect a nuanced conversation about changing social attitudes, honesty in relationships, empathy, and how society navigates stories where there isn’t always a clear villain or victim.