# E22: Has the Irish State lost Control?

An episode of [Something Different with John and Sarah](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1896884336), 16 Oct 2026, 1 h 02 min.

Audio: https://anchor.fm/s/113198214/podcast/play/127539283/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-9-15%2F434259166-44100-2-ac14b01f7c0a7.mp3

www.johnandsarah.ie Strikes shut down the country; Drug gangs burn children alive; Ministers are hospitalised, and the Dáil debates.... Non Binary Rights? In this episode we ask a simple question: Has the state lost control? 00:00 - Opening thanks 02:15 - Strike disruption at home, school, and court 04:47 - Why the public sector strike feels bigger than a pay dispute 10:35 - Free school books, lunches, and the politics of “cupcake” spending 18:39 - Why universal state schemes can waste money 23:18 - Waterford murder case and the horror of drug debt intimidation 30:08 - What the state should do about drug gangs and extortion 36:44 - Tatiana Stachiv and welfare fraud across borders 45:00 - Ruth Coppinger’s non-binary and intersex recognition bill 48:28 - The distinction between non-binary, intersex, and transgender 54:02 - Why they see gender recognition law as coercive 58:24 - Patrick O’Donovan in intensive care and political fallout 61:07 - Closing remarks and best wishes to listeners

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