Lunchtime Live

Since the Government took office in January, the number of children awaiting scoliosis surgery has risen from 112 to 131, despite 303 procedures being carried out by Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) up to July. CHI noted that the list is constantly changing as patients are added and removed.In 2017, then–Health Minister Simon Harris pledged that no child would wait more than four months for surgery. That target remains unmet, and there have since been calls for the Tánaiste to resign on the back of his failed promises.Why are children waiting so long for surgeries, and what needs to be done to improve these wait times for children and their families?Joining Andrea to discuss is Bernard Mulvany, Advocate with Access for All Ireland, Co-Leader of the Spina Bifida Advocacy Group, Una Knightly and Carolann Walsh, whose 5-year-old daughter is currently waiting for an MRI scan for scoliosis.

Would 40 degree temperatures put you off your summer break?Apparently not - a lot of us are still booking our holidays in Europe, despite the heatwave!So, are there cooler places we can look to, to escape the roaring temperatures?Joining Andrea to discuss is Sarah Slattery, Founder of the travelexpert.ie.

Lunchtime Live's Reasons to be Happy looks at some of the news stories that you might have missed that will leave you feeling more optimistic.98FM’s Cathal O’Sullivan joined Andrea in the studio to put a smile on your faces…

Due to a nationwide teacher shortage, the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) is calling for improved pay for educators returning from the United Arab Emirates, in an effort to attract and keep qualified professionals.TUI President Anthony Quinn described the current situation as “utterly unacceptable,” highlighting the lack of secure employment for new teachers.A recent union survey revealed that only one in four teachers appointed since 2015 secured full-time work in their first position.Do you think teachers with experience should be given a better salary?Joining Andrea to discuss is General Secretary of Teachers Union of Ireland, Michael Gillespie, Teacher & Irish Examiner Columnist, Jennifer Horgan, Assistant Principal and member of Aontú, Eric Nelligan and more.

Every Wednesday afternoon, we’ll be talking Making Babies.Andrea will be joined by Professor Shane Higgins, Master of the National Maternity Hospital to cover every area of trying to have a baby. From the very start of knowing how to prepare, right up to pregnancy – and all the bumps in the road in between.This week, Shane joins Andrea to discuss the early signs of labour!

Legislation was brought in in 2021 that banned the reselling of tickets for more than their face value. The idea was to curb ticket touting and protect consumers. But, why is it still happening?Joining Andrea to discuss is Consumer Journalist and Presenter of the Home Show on Newstalk Sinead Ryan and Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent Jess Kelly.

U2 is facing online backlash due to statements of support for Gaza that they posted to social media on Sunday. Critics are saying that it’s “too little, too late” and labeling the statements as “performative.”Joining Andrea to discuss is Arts Journalist Louise Bruton, Singer Mary Coughlan, Co-Founder of the Music & Entertainment Association of Ireland Jackie Conboy, Spin Presenter Jess Spencer and more.

For this week’s Ask the Expert, Andrea is joined by Dr Alex Andreev, Consultant Ophthalmologist at Eyedoc Eye Clinic in Blanchardstown to answer all of your eye-related questions!

The Ireland India Council has decided to postpone India Day on the back of the recent attacks faced by the Indian community in Ireland since January.Chairman of the Ireland India Council Preshant Shukla expressed how it was a very difficult and emotional decision to make, but expressed that the celebration is merely postponed, not cancelled.Andrea is joined by members of the Indian community, including Co-Chair of the Ireland India Council Damien Lee to hear their thoughts on this.

A shortage of Bean an Tí’s could spell the end of the Gaeltacht…It started with the Covid shutdown apparently, and just hasn’t recovered.What can we do to preserve this tradition?Joining Andrea to discuss is Ruairí Ó Donnáin, Principal of Colaiste Machaire Rabhartaidh Gael Linn. Criostóir Ó Faoláin, Stiúrthóir of Coláiste na Rinne and Bríd, a Bean an Tí in Waterford.

It’s How I Live Well time! Where someone joins to discuss what they do to improve their life…This week, Andrea is joined by owner of Ireland’s first Rage Room, Lukas Baltrusis and Psychologist Dr Malie Coyne to discuss controlled smashing in rage rooms!

Castlebar in Mayo has voted in a motion to ban car clamping in the town.So, should clamping be banned across the country?Andrea is joined by Michael Kilcoyne, Independent Councillor on Mayo County Council, as well as listeners, to discuss.

Dr Niall Breen from the Portmarnock GP Clinic joined Andrea Gilligan to tackle your medical queries.

People are apparently taking selfies at the farm of Michael Gaine…Michael Gaine was murdered earlier this year, and it seems to have stoked up some tourism in the area.Who would do this?Andrea is joined by Independent Kerry TD and Junior Minister Michael Healy-Rae to discuss.

Information obtained by Newstalk Breakfast under freedom of information has shown a sharp drop in fines issued for littering in Dublin City.The data collected has shown that only 68 fines have been given out in 2025. If this continues, there will be an 89% drop in fines in the past two years.That includes a 77% drop in Central Dublin, and just one single fine has been issued in Dublin North central in the past 19 months, down from 94 issued in 2023.This is despite the North Inner City being named the most littered area in Ireland by Irish Business Against Litter last month…Joining Andrea to discuss this is Damien Boylan, Councillor with Cork North City, Dave O’Reilly, Chair of Tidy Towns, owner of Martin Gear Jewellers, Martin Gear and more.

A 22-year-old Palestinian woman, Haya, who has been offered a place on a course at TU Dublin, is urgently appealing to the Irish public for help.Currently trapped in Gaza, she faces immense danger and uncertainty, unable to leave safely to pursue her education in Dublin.Haya joins Andrea to discuss…

Welcome to The Pod Squad!We review podcasts every week so you always have something new to listen to.Tom Douglas from the Newstalk Newsroom and Sarah Jayne Tobin, Editor of DMG Media join Andrea Gilligan to review ‘Titanic: Ship of Dreams’!Image: Noisier

There are plans to eradicate “cheat foods” like chicken nuggets or sausages from hot school meals.They will kick off from the start of the new academic year this September.So, is it bad to have a ‘cheat day’ in school meals?Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

It’s time for some summer memories!We chat to some well known names and faces and reminisce over those long summer days.Broadcaster Muireann O’Connell joins Andrea to reminisce!

Independent Senator Gerard Craughwell spoke with Pat Kenny this morning about how he feels equality should be given to all members of the public service after The Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act (FEMPI) cuts were unwound for all members apart from those in Leinster House.So, should politicians be entitled to more perks, or do they get enough?Joining Andrea to discuss is Pharmacist and former Fine Gael TD, Kate O’Connell and listeners.

Apparently, Irish people are the second biggest spenders when we’re on holiday - we spend twelve times more than Italians do when they go away!The only people who hit their wallets harder are the Austrians.So, are we really such big spenders?Andrea is joined by Meghann Scully, Freelance Broadcaster and Broadcaster Padraig Wilson McCarthy to discuss.

Parents are keeping their pockets lined by teaching their children to steal from shops in Limerick. That’s what Shane Gleeson, who runs several Spar branches across the city, said, and that the Child Protection Agency needs to get involved.How big of a problem is this, and what should the solution be?Andrea is joined by Shane, as well as other shop owners, to discuss…

From an international first date with a Longford man to objections to a British billionaire's Waterford mansion, Breakfast Briefing Presenter Shane Beatty joins Andrea Gilligan with plenty of stories from around the country this week!

AIB and Bank of Ireland have caused uproar in recent weeks with announcements that they expect workers to return to the office.So, is it fair to expect workers to stop working from home?Joining Andrea to discuss is Tracy Keogh, Co-Founder and Chair of Grow Remote, as well as listeners.

When you want to give a room that extra touch of brightness - how do you know which type of lighting to get?Well, the Home Squad are here to talk about all things lighting your home!Joining Andrea to discuss is Jenny Sheehan, Irish Examiner Columnist and former winner of ‘Home of the Year’ (@workerscottage on Instagram) and Founder and Creative Director of Arlene McIntyre Design, Arlene McIntyre.

Once considered a glamorous career among the clouds, the role of cabin crew has evolved into one increasingly focused on sales.Flight attendants, once seen purely as caretakers of passenger comfort, are now often viewed as frontline salespeople, offering everything from snacks to duty-free goods mid-flight.But, has this shift changed the way we perceive cabin crew?Terry Prone, Columnist with the Irish Examiner & Chair of the Communications Clinic, has been writing about this, and joins Andrea as well as former Air Hostess and Author of ‘Confessions of an Air Hostess’ Marisa Mackle and Travel Journalists Joan Scales and Yvonne Reddin to discuss.

A young six-year old child was verbally and physically abused by a group of young teens in Co. Waterford - yet another racially-motivated attack in recent weeks.Anupa Naveen, mother of Nina, joins Andrea to discuss what happened…

Almost 10% of adults in Ireland have had a romantic relationship with an AI chatbot within the last 12 months, new research shows.But, how do these relationships work, and are they really a substitute for genuine connections?Andrea is joined by Jess Kelly, Newstalk’s Tech Correspondent and Tara Logan Buckley, Chartered Clinical Psychologist to discuss.

We’ve decided to do a deep dive on some of our favourite albums to explore the stories behind them.What did the artists really think of each other? Where did the inspirations from the songs come from?Joining Andrea to discuss is Head Tour Guide at the Irish Rock ‘N’ Roll Museum Experience, Alan Buckley, who’s going to talk through Paul Simon’s ‘Graceland’!

Megan Slough Royal and her family are dealing with a tough situation: her mother went to undergo an assisted suicide in Switzerland. The catch? The family weren’t informed ahead of time, and were told that their mother was deceased over Whatsapp…Megan joins Andrea to discuss.If any of these issues have affected you, you can contact The Samaritans on 116 123.

With the school holidays soon coming to a close, many parents are facing the dreaded back to school costs. Uniforms, electronics and voluntary contributions are just some of the expenses that spring to mind this time of year.A recent survey carried out by Barnardos has highlighted just how expensive Ireland’s free education system is…Joining Andrea to discuss this is CEO of Barnardos, Suzanne Connolly, Lisa O’Sullivan Shaw (@modernirishmom on Instagram) and Lucy, a parent in Stillorgan.

Lunchtime Live's Reasons to be Happy looks at some of the news stories that you might have missed that will leave you feeling more optimistic.98FM’s Cathal O’Sullivan joined Andrea in the studio to put a smile on your faces…

Many racially motivated attacks have been happening across the country. Some are so bad that young children are being verbally and physically abused.Why is this happening - and what can be done to stop it?Today, Andrea is joined by members of the Indian and Pakistani community who have been victims of these attacks to discuss, including Dr Santosh Yadav - who was left with a broken cheekbone after an attack…

Every Wednesday afternoon, we’ll be talking Making Babies.Andrea will be joined by Professor Shane Higgins, Master of the National Maternity Hospital to cover every area of trying to have a baby. From the very start of knowing how to prepare, right up to pregnancy – and all the bumps in the road in between.This week, Shane joins Andrea to discuss male infertility, and answer listener questions.

Ed Sheeran made a surprise appearance at an Fleadh Cheoil in Wexford town yesterday.He played at the well-known Sky & The Ground pub.Massive crowds gathered on the streets hoping to catch a glimpse of him.He was joined by members of the Irish bands Biird and Amble and performed a number of his original songs, as well as traditional Irish trad tunes.To discuss the surprise, Andrea is joined by Caolán Barron from the Sky & The Ground pub, Eamon Murray from the band Beoga and Singer Aaron Rowe.

Should restaurants and shops be adding a ‘carbon free’ fee to bills?A London restaurant has sparked outrage by adding the extra charge to diners' bills.One customer who visited The Pig And Butcher in Islington, UK highlighted a discretionary £1.23 'carbon free' fee that had been added to the total price of their meal.Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

For this week’s Ask the Expert, Andrea is joined by Michelle Lawlor from the Nude Wine Company to answer all of your wine-related questions!

A test of ten electric cars has revealed the majority charge slower than advertised, causing waits at charging stations...Joining Andrea to discuss this is Shane O’ Donoghue, Editor of CompleteCar.ie and Derek Reilly from Nevo, a company who helps people transition to EVs.

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris has said "no stone" will be left unturned to secure the release of an Irish woman, who was kidnapped along with seven other people from an orphanage in Haiti yesterday.Gena Heraty, a native of Westport in Co Mayo, who is in her mid-50s, oversees the Sainte-Helene orphanage in the commune of Kenscoff, about 10km southeast of the capital, Port au Prince.Ms Heraty was among seven staff taken, as well as a young child, according to Kenscoff Mayor Masillon Jean.So, what happens now?Joining Andrea to discuss is Peter Hanley from Clowns for Haiti, Declan Power, Security and Defence Analyst and more.

1 in every 7 women will develop breast cancer in the course of their lifetime.And only 5%-10% of breast cancer cases are hereditary.So, more research is needed, and more help is needed.The Very Pink Run is one way to get that help.

It’s How I Live Well time! Where someone joins to discuss what they do to improve their life…This week, Andrea is joined by Debbie Brown, Multi-Raquet Coach to discuss the benefits of pickleball!

Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers confirmed in a Dáil statement that there are no plans to alter the tax treatment of tips.It comes after TD Ken O’Flynn accused the Government of penalising low-income workers for doing their jobs well.Do you think there should be a tax on tips for people working in the hospitality sector, or should they be scrapped altogether?Joining Andrea to discuss is Adrian Cummins, CEO of the Restaurants Association, Hairdressing Group Owner Terence Boyle, CEO of Kinore and Accountant Larissa Feeney and more.

It’s time for some summer memories!We chat to some well known names and faces and reminisce over those long summer days.Chef Derry Clarke joins Andrea to reminisce!

A recent survey has determined that over 40% of people adhere to the ‘one month's salary’ when buying an engagement ring. What was once a tough, costly decision has now led to a cheaper alternative, with many people buying token rings or even going abroad to get them at a cheaper price.Have people become stingy when buying an engagement ring?Joining Andrea to discuss is Margaret Brennan of Aidan Brennan Jewellers in Dundalk, Sarah Kennedy, Wedding Expert from ‘The Aisle’ Blog and listeners.

We heard a few weeks ago about the unprovoked attack of an Indian man in Ireland, and that the entire community was feeling it.Since then, listener Faizan got in touch with the show with his feelings on the situation, and joins Andrea to discuss…

Despite the long weekend coming up, you may already be dreading going back to work on Tuesday, including those with “fun jobs.”Andrea is joined by Comedian Julie Jay, Restaurant Critic Katy McGuinness, and DJ Marty Guilfoyle to talk about the perks and downsides of their jobs, and if their work is as glamorous as it sometimes appears.Clinical Psychologist Tara Logan Buckley also joins to discuss why we feel the way we feel about our jobs, and how to shift our perception toward the positive.

35% of men have delayed or avoided speaking to a healthcare professional about potential prostate issues, according to a study by Vista Health in the UK.16% of men who had put off a doctor’s visit did so out of embarrassment, and the poll also found that 27% of men can name more Formula 1 World Champions than signs of prostate issues…Joining Andrea to discuss why men may be embarrassed to talk about their health problems is Dr Maire Finn, GP from Ennis Centric Health, Keith Russell, Blogger, Podcaster & Mental Health Advocate and listeners.

From misbehaving toilets to Braveheart 30th celebrations, Breakfast Briefing Presenter Shane Beatty joins Andrea Gilligan with plenty of stories from around the country this week!

DIY can be intimidating at the best of times - and of course, there’s the time needed to get certain projects done.Well, the Home Squad are here about jobs you can do in a weekend!Joining Andrea to discuss is Jenny Sheehan, Irish Examiner Columnist and former winner of ‘Home of the Year’ (@workerscottage on Instagram) and Natasha Rocca Devine, Interior Designer.

A 2019 survey found that about 35% of Irish people had tattoos, and that number has most likely increased in the past six years. The appeal of getting inked transcends demographics like age and gender, but is there still some stigma surrounding tattoos?Andrea is joined by tattoo artists and listeners to discuss.