Today on the podcast, Niall speaks with Independent TD Michael Collins following a political row over Ireland’s planned international football fixture against Israel. Collins has accused Sinn Féin of “political grandstanding” after party leader Mary Lou McDonald said it would be “unthinkable” for Ireland to play Israel, home or away, while the war in Gaza continues.

The match is part of a scheduled UEFA international competition fixture involving the Republic of Ireland men’s national team. Under normal UEFA regulations, if a team refuses to play a sanctioned competitive match for political reasons, it would likely have to forfeit the game — usually recorded as a 3-0 loss — and could face additional fines or disciplinary sanctions.

Politically, the issue has divided opinion. Some politicians and campaigners argue sport should reflect ethical and humanitarian concerns, while others say international sport should remain separate from politics and that refusing to play could harm Irish football, players, and supporters without changing events abroad.

Niall and Michael Collins discuss whether calls for a boycott are justified, whether politics is increasingly influencing sport, and what the consequences could be if Ireland took such a stand.

We’re also asking you:

Do you support Ireland playing the match?

Will you be watching if it goes ahead?

And should politics and sport always be kept separate?

Join the conversation and let us know your view.

Today on the podcast, Niall is joined by John McGuirk, editor of Gript Media, and social commentator Karl Deeter to discuss the controversial case of Irish citizen Seamus Culleton, who has been held by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) since last September after allegedly overstaying a visitor visa for many years.

Originally from Co Kilkenny, Culleton had been living in the United States since 2009 and was arrested near his Massachusetts home before being transferred to a detention facility in Texas. His deportation has recently been temporarily postponed by a US court while legal efforts continue. Supporters say he has built a life in America and is married to a US citizen, while critics argue immigration laws must be enforced consistently.

The case has sparked wider debate about undocumented Irish people in the United States. Estimates vary widely — from roughly 10,000 to as many as 50,000 undocumented Irish residents — many of whom have lived there for decades, often working, paying taxes, and raising families with American-born children.

Karl and John bring differing perspectives on how cases like Culleton’s should be handled: whether compassion, practicality, and long-standing ties should carry weight, or whether immigration law must apply equally regardless of nationality or length of stay.

We’re asking listeners: should undocumented Irish in the US be offered an amnesty, allowing them to remain legally, or should enforcement take its course even when families and livelihoods are at stake?

Join the conversation and share your views.

This week, host Niall sits down with Senator Sharon Keoghan to unpack the controversy surrounding recent comments about diversity recruitment in the Irish Defence Forces.

After the Defence Minister spoke about making recruitment more diverse — including the possibility of international protection applicants joining — Senator Keoghan described the idea as “madness,” questioning loyalty, national security, and whether fast-tracking citizenship through military service could pose risks to Irish society.

But is it really such a radical idea? Or, as some commentators argue, could broadening recruitment be one of the few realistic ways to address falling enlistment numbers — especially when public debate continues about the purpose, cost, and role of Ireland’s Defence Forces?

Niall and Senator Keoghan explore:

• The reasoning behind her remarks

• The Defence Forces’ role in modern Ireland

• Whether diversity in recruitment strengthens or weakens national security

• And the bigger question: do we actually need a standing defence force at all?

A thoughtful, challenging conversation about defence, identity, and the future of Ireland’s military.

This week, Niall dives into an intriguing story involving former US president Barack Obama and the question that never seems to go away — aliens.

Speaking recently on a podcast with Brian Tyler Cohen, Obama said that while the universe is vast and statistically life could exist elsewhere, the chances Earth has actually been visited by extraterrestrials are “low.” He joked that aliens aren’t being hidden in Area 51 and said he saw no evidence of alien contact during his presidency.

He later clarified that his comments came during a quick-fire question round — but reiterated that although life elsewhere is possible, there’s no proof they’ve ever reached us. Obama has even joked before, including in an interview with James Corden, that he checked whether secret alien labs existed when he entered office — and was told they didn’t.

So tonight, Niall asks the big question for listeners:

Are we alone out there… or do you think aliens exist — and maybe have already visited Earth?

In this episode, Niall is joined by podcaster and social commentator Elaine Mullally for a lively and thought-provoking discussion on welfare, responsibility, and fairness in today’s society.

They unpack controversial comments from UK MP Rupert Lowe, who suggested that healthy people on benefits who refuse work should be required to clean streets and public spaces — or risk losing their payments. Is this a reasonable expectation tied to taxpayer support, or does it cross the line into forced labour?

Together, Niall and Elaine explore the wider questions:

Should long-term unemployed people be required to contribute community work to receive benefits?

Where is the balance between social support and personal responsibility?

And what impact could such policies have on dignity, opportunity, and society as a whole?

It’s a nuanced conversation with strong views on both sides — and, as always, listeners are invited to make up their own minds.

In this episode, Niall sits down with Cathal Leevy from PAWs — the animal welfare party — to tackle a debate that’s stirring strong opinions: are zoos an outdated concept?

The discussion follows recent comments by Ruth Coppinger, who called zoos a “Victorian concept” and suggested they should be phased out, arguing conservation funding would be better spent protecting animals in the wild rather than in captivity — particularly at places like Dublin Zoo.

But not everyone agrees. Minister of State Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran has defended the zoo’s role in conservation, education, and tourism, highlighting inspections by the National Parks and Wildlife Service and its long-standing place in Phoenix Park.

Niall and Cathal explore the ethics of captivity, conservation realities, animal welfare concerns, and the cultural place zoos still hold today — before asking listeners directly:

Are zoos an outdated concept, or do they still serve an important purpose?

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.

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.