Lunchtime Live

For this week’s Throwback Thursday, Rebecca Shekleton, Presenter on 98fm’s Big Breakfast joins Andrea to look back on the year 1978!

From blood types, to supply and who can and can’t donate blood: Andrea is joined by Dr Ellen McSweeney, Irish Blood Transfusion Donor Consultant, to answer your blood donation questions for this week’s Ask the Expert!

Today, 174 TDs assembled in the Dáil chamber at 11am, and the nomination process for the new Taoiseach began.That is, until, the Dáil was suspended for a third time…So why are things seemingly off to a rocky start?Seán Defoe, Newstalk’s Political Correspondent and Brendan Howlin, former Labour Leader and Cabinet Minister, join Andrea to discuss.

It's January, and everyone is hitting the gym and eating healthy, but how do we know we are getting enough protein?To discuss, Andrea is joined by Registered Dietician, Orla Walsh.

Road safety campaigners have been urging Google to remove alerts that a Garda checkpoint is approaching...Should they be removed? And do these alerts encourage dangerous driving?To discuss, Andrea is joined by Susan Gray, Chairperson of road safety group PARC, Brenda Bolger from the School of Motoring in Kilkenny and more.

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.Today FM’s Cathal O’Sullivan joined Andrea in the studio to put a smile on your faces…

The Dáil is meeting today for the nomination of a new Taoiseach, but it will not sit again for another two weeks.When business gets back underway in the Dáil on February 5th, it will be nearly two months since traditional business in Leinster House took place…It’s understood that the Government wants this break to allow new Ministers to get acquainted with their briefs.Should our politicians be taking this extra time off?Andrea is joined by former Tánaiste and Labour Party Leader Joan Burton and more to discuss.

Welcome to The Pod Squad!We review podcasts every Tuesday so you always have something new to listen to.This week, Killian Ginnity from the ‘Not A Pundit Podcast’ and Ellen Butler from Newstalk’s Newsroom join Andrea to review ‘Noble’!Image: Campfire

Yesterday, Donald Trump was sworn in for a second time, becoming the 47th president of the United States…But, no inauguration day is without its surprises, and there were plenty of weird and fascinating moments!Joining Andrea to discuss is Gina London, former White House Correspondent for CNN and Sunday Independent Columnist and Laura Mullet, Stylist and Journalist.

There has been a lot of chat lately about the safety of children when using the internet.Andrea’s guest knows just all about the real dangers that lurk online, CEO of Hotline.ie and former Garda, Mick Moran…He joins the show to give his top tips.Image: Hotline.ie

The first HSE app is being launched in March.The app, which will have ­limited functions initially, will expand over time and aim to give people the freedom to book appointments and store a range of health information.Many other health services throughout Europe already offer apps like this – why is Irish medical tech so far behind?Is this app a step in the right direction?Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss, including Pharmacist Sheena Mitchell and Dr Martin Daly, Fianna Fáil TD.

It’s How I Live Well time! Where Andrea Gilligan is joined by someone to discuss what they do to improve their life.This week, Andrea is joined by Eva Berg, who has been teaching reformer pilates for 30 years!

New research has revealed that 79% of Dublin residents believe that key workers living in Dublin should get rent subsidies. Does this make sense?Joining Andrea to discuss is Paschal Taggart, Dublin-based businessman, Róisín, Teachers Youth Spokesperson for Education Coalition Dublin West, Jason Cullen from the Dublin Commuter Coalition and more.

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

“I swapped my iPhone for a dumb phone – and got two hours back every day…’, so wrote Marion McGilvary recently in the Daily Mail.She joins Andrea to discuss why she made the change.

Donald Trump will be sworn in as US President at around 5pm Irish time today.Objectively, it is certainly a comeback for a man who has survived two impeachment trials, and two assassination attempts.So, what will his impact be in Ireland?Andrea is joined by Journalist Barbara McCarthy, Paddy Cullivan, Historical Entertainer and American citizen living in Galway and more to discuss.Image: Reuters

Ireland’s billionaires added an additional €13bn to their wealth last year, the equivalent to €35.6m each day, according to a new report from Oxfam Ireland.The charity called for greater taxation on extreme wealth…So, should we tax the rich more heavily?Andrea is joined by Registered Tax Consultant Jean Cashman as well as listeners to discuss.

This is Lunchtime Live’s Big Batch. Every Monday we’ll be learning new easy to cook batch recipes to keep you eating well. No more staring into an open fridge looking for inspiration!This week, Andrea is joined by Siobhan Berry, from @mummycooks on Instagram, to look at some easy and delicious meal prep ideas!Follow the hashtag #LLBigBatch for all our recipes.

It was reported today that schools have been issuing warnings over ‘snus’ being used among students… So, why have nicotine pouches become so popular again?Andrea is joined by Mark Dunne, SETU Students’ Union President, Eric Nelligan, Aontú Education Spokesperson and Secondary School Teacher, Tom Gleeson from the New Nicotine Alliance Ireland Keith Redmond owner of Redmond Dental Care on the Sutton Cross and more to discuss.

For this week’s Ask Me Anything, Trevor Twamley, CEO & Co-Founder of Sport Endorse, joins Andrea to answer any of your questions about being a sports agent!

Ciara Mangan, who helped convict her rapist Shane Noonan in 2023, has launched a new survivor-led charity to support others facing similar struggles.After her own difficult journey seeking justice, Ciara has set up the charity to address the "lonely struggle" many survivors endure, offering help and resources through a new website.Ciara joins Andrea to discuss.

Have businesses become too dog friendly?  Earlier today on Newstalk, Irish Independent Journalist Rosalyn Dee told Ciara Kelly about she takes her dog to churches…Is that a step too far? Where should the line be drawn?Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

Traitors has taken over our TVs and an Irish series has been commissioned for RTÉ.So, why are we so invested in deception, and how do we know if someone is lying to us?To discuss, Andrea is joined by Psychiatrist, Brendan Kelly.Image: RTÉ

From car park charges to cúpla focal, Breakfast Briefing Presenter Shane Beatty joins Andrea with plenty of stories from around the country this week!

Gardaí caught 266 drivers on their phones yesterday as part of a national day of action targeting mobile use behind the wheel.762 motorists have been caught by gardaí using their phones while driving already this year, which marks a fourfold increase on the daily average last year.So, why are we still not getting the message when it comes to phone use behind the wheel?Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

When you’re looking to do a bit of work on your kitchen, should you make a kitchen island part of that plan? This week, the Home Squad are looking into it!Andrea is joined by Arlene McIntrye, Creative Director of Ventura Design and Sarah Carroll from Sand and Deliver DIY to discuss.

A plea for support from a mother raised more than €400k in just a few days on GoFundMe, but a lot more is needed to help 7 year old Archie…Una Ennis, Archie’s mum, joins Andrea to discuss why she put out a plea for help.Image: @una_ennis_xo on Instagram

We are approaching the one-year anniversary of the deposit return scheme.So far, 900 million plastic bottles and cans have been brought back to machines and shops, but Larissa Nolan, Features Editor and Columnist with the Irish Mirror, told Newstalk earlier today that she thinks the scheme is a nuisance...What do you think? Are you in favour of the Deposit Return Scheme?Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

There has been positive news from Gaza yesterday, with an announcement of a prospective ceasefire…But, how optimistic are the people of Palestine that it will last?Andrea is joined by people from the area to discuss.

For this week’s Throwback Thursday, Rebecca Shekleton, Presenter on 98fm’s Big Breakfast joins Andrea to look back on the year 1977!

The Programme for Government was released yesterday, a 162-page document covering the coalition’s plans for the next 4 years...One of the education promises includes improving the student teacher ratio to 19:1, but how bad is it currently?Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

For this week’s Ask the Expert, Andrea is joined by Skincare Expert, Eavanna Breen, to learn about how the cold season can affect your skin, and the best ways you can look after it.

A scammer duped a French woman into paying out hundreds of thousands of pounds after convincing her that she was in a relationship with Brad Pitt.The scammer used AI to make images of Brad Pitt, sick in hospital, to scam her out of €830,000. She thought she was helping with cancer treatment for him.Andrea is joined by Becky Holmes, author of ‘Keanu Reeves Is Not In Love With You’, to discuss these types of scams.

From February 3rd, the price of a Guiness will go up another 6 cents, along with other pints produced by company Diageo.What impact does this have on the hospitality industry?Andrea is joined by publicans and listeners to discuss.

Andrea’s guest is a prolific sperm donor, who says he will soon have 100 children across the globe…Kyle Gordy joins the show to discuss.

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.Today FM’s Cathal O’Sullivan joined Andrea in the studio to put a smile on your faces…

Senior representatives of the Jewish community in Ireland have objected to President Michael D Higgins giving the keynote speech at the Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration in Dublin later this month.What do you think?Is it right for our President to speak at the Holocaust memorial day in Dublin?To discuss, Andrea is joined by Richard Boyd Barrett, People Before Profit TD for Dun Laoghaire, Daniel O'Dowd-Epstein, Lior Tibet and Dorcha Lee, retired Army Colonel and Peacekeeper.

Welcome to The Pod Squad!We review podcasts every Tuesday so you always have something new to listen to.This week, Entertainment and Culture Journalist Rory Cashin and Laura Donnelly from Newstalk’s Newsroom join Andrea to review ‘Shell Game’!Image: Evan Ratliff

A Derry nun has begun the path to sainthood with a special ceremony in Madrid.Sister Clare Crockett from Derry died in an earthquake in South America on the 16th of April 2016.Andrea is joined by Clare's sister, Shauna Gill, to discuss.

A study has found that a shocking number of female sports stars don’t see themselves as role models.According to new research from Lidl Ireland and the Ladies Gaelic Football Association 43% of LGFA inter-county players said they do not currently consider themselves as role models.So, why do female sports stars have such a difficult time in seeing themselves as sports stars?To discuss, Andrea is joined by Hannah Looney, Dual football and Camogie player for Cork, Aishling Sheridan, former Collingwood Football Club AFL Women’s player in Australia & Cavan LGFA player, former Cork LGFA star Valerie Mulcah, Linda Gorman, former Ireland player, Coach, & Ireland’s first Female International Soccer Manager and more.

Last night, Andrea went to see The Brutalist, which stars Adrian Brody. It was great, but was also three and a half hours long, with an intermission to break it up.So, is that too much of a length, and is this something that more films are doing?To discuss, Andrea is joined by Irish Independent Journalist Saoirse Hanley, author and Screenwriter Patrick Osborne and Mark Anderson, Director of the Omniplex Cinema Group.Image: A24

It’s How I Live Well time! Where Andrea Gilligan is joined by someone to discuss what they do to improve their life.This week, Andrea is joined by Dwayne Edgar, Founder of Inner City Running Club to learn more about running in a group like this one!

Since 2019, personal injury claims have fallen by about 40%, and yet, premiums continue to rise and affect businesses.Joining Andrea to discuss how business is being hurt by insurance costs is Leah O’Brien from Breifne Gymnastics Club Cavan, Ger Hough, owner of JJ Hough's Singing Pub in Bangher Co. Offaly, Paula Donohoe, owner of Clever Cloggs Creche in Ballyconnell in County Cavan and Jackie Conboy, Co-Founder of the Music & Entertainment Association of Ireland.

For this week’s Ask the GP, Andrea is joined by Katie Mugan, Lactation Consultant & Breastfeeding & Formula Feeding Specialist…

Weather forecasters in California are warning fierce winds around Los Angeles are expected to pick up again this week.Fire fighters there are still trying to control three large wildfires.The death toll from the disaster is now at 24, with another 16 remaining missing…Andrea is joined by two Irish people living in the area, Owen Dara and Kevin J Ryan, to discuss what things are like on the ground.Image: Reuters

Enoch Burke has been back protesting outside the school he was sacked from last week. He has been protesting there on and off since 2022, and is sometimes joined by supporters.Andrea is joined by the mum of a pupil at the school Enoch Burke is protesting at to discuss how it is affecting the students there…

It's hard to go on a walk these days and not see an abundance of dog poo, but what should we do to solve it?What do you do if you notice people aren’t picking up after themselves?To discuss, Andrea is joined by Katy Harrington, Features Editor for The Irish Independent, Dave O'Reilly,  Greystones Tidy Towns Chairman and Cork Cllr Peter Horgan.

This is Lunchtime Live’s Big Batch. Every Monday we’ll be learning new easy to cook batch recipes to keep you eating well. No more staring into an open fridge looking for inspiration!This week, Erica Drum, TV Chef and Food Stylist (and @ericadrumie on Instagram!), joins Andrea to discuss batch cooking recipes you can fry up in the pan!As always, you can follow #LLBigBatch on our socials to find the recipes.

Students in Ireland have easy access to a personal “homework genie” powered by artificial intelligence that can do their assignments in a matter of seconds.Teacher Patrick Hickey, an Irish expert in AI and education, says that most teachers, principals and parents are completely unaware that students have access to this level of AI “in their back pocket”...Andrea is joined by Newstalk’s Tech Correspondent Jess Kelly, Mary McCarthy, Irish Independent Columnist, Siobhan O’Neill White from Mams.ie and more to discuss.

For this week’s Ask Me Anything, Lindsay Moynagh, Founder of Wendor and House of Hannah Weddings & Events joins Andrea to answer any of your wedding-related questions!