#701 Are Smaller Parties Given a Fighting Chance?

On today’s episode of The Niall Boylan Podcast, Niall is joined by Paedar Tóibín to discuss the political storm still raging after the fuel protests, and whether the Government has truly understood the anger on the ground.While the protests may have eased for now, the fallout is far from over.Recent reports show the Government only narrowly held onto power during a confidence vote, surviving 92–78 after days of disruption, fuel shortages, and national protests that brought parts of the country to a standstill.Behind the scenes, tensions are growing. Fianna Fáil TDs have expressed “deep concern” about how the crisis was handled, warning that public trust has been damaged and that voters are turning away from the party.At the same time, the Government’s majority has been weakened, with support from some TDs wavering following the protests, highlighting just how fragile the coalition has become.Despite all of this, Taoiseach Micheál Martin insists he will lead Fianna Fáil into the next general election, brushing off criticism and standing firm on his leadership.But many are asking… will he last that long?Peadar Tóibín claims that throughout the protests, RTÉ News gave coverage to every political party except Aontú, arguing that real political change will never happen unless new voices are given fair access to the media.So Niall asks:Did the Government completely underestimate the scale of public anger?Is this about fuel prices… or something much deeper?And is the media playing a role in shaping who gets heard and who doesn’t?📞 Niall opens the phone lines:Do you think anything will actually change after these protests?Do you trust the Government to listen?Or are people so fed up now that the next election could change everything?A hard hitting discussion on power, protest, and whether Ireland is on the brink of political change