Lunchtime Live

Is staying in the new going out? Well, according to a new study, it is when you reach the age of 29.This change in social habits aligns with advice from specialists who suggest that endorphins, or 'indoorphins' as they're being called, are boosted by simply enjoying time at home.A significant 93 percent of people polled hold the view that home life is essential for their wellbeing.What do you think? Do you prefer the comfort of home over heading out to socialise from the age of 29?Jess Kelly, Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent and Cathal O’Sullivan, Content Creator with Today FM join Andrea to discuss.

Bad news for drivers, as tolls are set to rise on some roads once again next year.The fee for the Dublin Port Tunnel heading southbound at peak morning times is increasing from €12 to €13.On the M50, cars, buses and lighter goods vehicles that do not have a tag or video account will be paying an extra 10c.Heavy Goods Vehicles with tag and video accounts are facing a 10c increase on the M50, while those that do not are facing a 20c rise.What impact will this have on your commute?To discuss, Andrea is joined by Shane O’Donoghue, Editor of CompleteCar.ie as well as listeners.

UK Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has said that she believes “prison isn’t working” for women.She points out how, after serving a short custodial sentence, a woman is “significantly more likely” to reoffend than one given a non-custodial sentence.So, if that is the case in the UK, is prison working for women in Ireland?Andrea is joined by Saoirse Brady, Executive Director of the Irish Penal Reform Trust as well as former prisoner Gillian to discuss.

From ‘1,000 songs in your pocket’ to “I’ll be back” – 98fm’s Ciaran O’Connor has plenty to chat about on this week’s throwback Thursday.Image: Apple

The Dáil has voted in favour of a report into assisted dying. The report, which called for assisted dying be made legal in limited circumstances, does not progress the issue in law.It is, however, an indication that a majority within the current Dáil favour introducing ‘dying with dignity’ laws in Ireland.Where do you stand?To discuss, Andrea is joined by Ian O’Doherty, Opinion Columnist with the Irish Independent as well as listeners.

For this week’s Ask the Expert, Andrea is joined by Paediatric Occupational Therapist & Feeding Therapist Teresa Foley to find out how to deal with fussy eaters!

It’s sometimes hard to see somebody living a dream job, but that’s exactly what Stefan Bruderer is doing. He’s a Lindt Master Chocolatier, and joins Andrea to discuss his day-to-day.

Dozens of pupils who have been unable to find places in mainstream schools since last September are being taught at home, it has been revealed.Department of Education data shows that some pupils without school places are being taught at home under a home tuition scheme aimed at providing a compensatory education service.Under the scheme, families receive a grant to employ a qualified tutor to provide up to nine hours of home tuition per week.Almost half of all secondary schools across the State are set to be oversubscribed in the coming school year.Andrea is joined by Fine Gael Senator Emer Currie and more 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…Image: Discover Ireland

This week, Kathleen Correia waived her right to anonymity after a high profile court case that saw her former husband jailed for eight years for rape and coercively control.Kathleen joins Andrea to share her story.If you were affected by this segment, or feel like you are in a similar situation, don't hesitate to reach out:Women’s Aid 24-Hour National Freephone Helpline: 1800 341 900Dublin Rape Crisis Centre 24-Hour National Helpline: 1800 77 8888

Welcome to The Pod Squad!We review podcasts every Tuesday so you always have something new to listen to.Host of the ‘For Tech’s Sake’ podcast Elaine Burke and Entertainment Journalist Rory Cashin joined Andrea to review ‘Bad Dates’!Image: Smartless Media

Listener Karl got in touch with the show with an issue he has. After a mysterious €18 charge to his account, he has seemingly been signed up to some subscription service with a monthly direct debit. What should be done in this situation? And is it a scam?Sinead Ryan, Consumer Expert and host of The Home Show on Newstalk joins Andrea and Karl to discuss.

A survey has found that 88% of parents say that social media has made playdate hosting even more competitive.Parents now feel they have to ditch the fizzy drinks and choc-ices in favour of smoothies and veggie crisps.78% agree that the idea of having a few friends over for nuggets and a movie is no longer considered good enough, as the expectation is for better-quality and more nutritious food - as well as more diverse options.Is this something you have experienced?To discuss, Andrea is joined by Journalist Niamh O’Reilly, Emma Manley, Creative Director of women's wear brand Manley, Off the Ball’s Adrian Barry as well as listeners.

According to a HSE National Ambulance Service report, bystander CPR in cases of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest increased by 25% between 2012 and 2023.Around 70% of people will do CPR to someone they know, whilst 60% of CPR instances will happen in the home.Owner of First Aid for Everyone, Siobhan Butler, joins Andrea to discuss the do’s and don’ts when carrying out CPR.

This year on Lunchtime Live we’ve been looking at things that we can do in order to make ourselves that bit happier and healthier.This week, Andrea is joined by Brigid O’Hora, author of ‘The Home Sommelier’ to discuss how you can pick out the perfect bottle of wine in a supermarket!

Unemployed people who refuse to engage with social welfare ­employment services will see their Jobseeker’s Benefit cut by €90 under a plan quietly signed off by the Government after the Budget.At the moment,  people who refused to engage with department officials or ­return-to-work schemes would see their payments cut €44 a week.If a person re-engages with welfare services, their full jobseeker payment is restored.This would see that fine doubled. Is that fair?Andrea is joined by People Before Profit TD Bríd Smith and listeners to discuss.

Dr Nina Byrnes, GP at Generation Health Medical Clinic joined Andrea to tackle your medical queries…

Do you have any ‘vampire friends’? The friends that absolutely suck the life out of you, maybe with negativity, or they just leave you feeling drained after a catch up?How do you spot them, and more importantly, how do you deal with them?Mark Fennell, Life Coach, Speaker and Author joins Andrea to discuss.

Listener Tina Koumarianos got in touch with the show to share her issue. She has about 50 rats currently in her garden, and the problem doesn’t seem to be getting better.Trevor Hayden from Complete Pest Control as well as Tina and more join Andrea to discuss what should be done in this situation.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has accused RTÉ of “electoral interference” over a satirical joke aired on the Late Late Show.During the opening monologue, Late Late host Patrick Kielty spoke of “the Sinn Féin traitors, the show we all want to see” when joking about a new Irish version of the hit reality TV show, Traitors.Did he push it too far? Where is the line when it comes to political satire?To discuss, Andrea is joined by Paddy Prendiville, Editor of The Phoenix and John Lee, Executive Editor of the Daily Mail.

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 Food Creator Sinéad Delahunty, to look at how you can get the most out of oats!Follow the hashtag #LLBigBatch for all our recipes.

A new survey reveals almost 1,000 teaching vacancies nationwide in primary and special schools as principals struggle to fill posts.The survey carried out by the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO), Irish Primary Principals’ Network and the Catholic Primary Schools Management Association, says principals have become increasingly reliant on personnel who are not registered with the Teaching Council to cover short-term absences.So, why are primary and special schools across the country struggling to find staff?To discuss, Andrea is joined by Siobhan O’Neill White from Mams.ie, Rachel Harper, Principal of St. Patrick’s National School and Padraig Wilson McCarthy, teacher on a career break.

Every Friday, as part of our ‘Ask Me Anything’ series, we put your questions to people from interesting backgrounds or working in different careers.This week, Andrea was joined by Ann Grimes, Duty Control Supervisor in the National Emergency Operations Centre in Tallaght to answer any of your dispatch questions!

The skies have been awash with activity the past few weeks, between the supermoon this week, the Northern Lights last week and the comet zipping through the skies this month.But, why is there so much action? David Moore, Chairman of Astronomy Ireland joins Andrea to discuss.

Some people might think there is nothing better than to curl up with a cup of tea and a thousand-page book, but Sir Ian Rankin would disagree…The bestselling Scottish crime fiction writer said there was “no necessity” for crime novels to be longer than 300 pages and that big books “get put at the bottom of the reading list”.What do you think? Are books these days too long? What about modern films? And TV shows?To discuss, Andrea is joined by Author Sheila O’Flanagan, Rory Cashin, Entertainment & Culture Journalist, Sinéad from Tired Mammy Book Club and more.

Are you part of the ‘Sandwich Generation’?This refers to middle-aged adults who are caring for both elderly parents and their own children.Nowadays, with older generations living longer and young people staying at the family home later in life – more and more people may consider themselves part of the Sandwich Generation. Does this sound like your experience?Andrea is joined by The Midlife Coach Alana Kirk and Professor Rose Anne Kenny from Trinity College Dublin to discuss.

From libraries in pubs to rats in Cork, Breakfast Briefing Presenter Shane Beatty joins Andrea with his stories from across the country.

Rather than awarding people with the Freedom of the City in Dublin, should we instead have an honours system like they do in the UK?To discuss, Andrea is joined by Mary Manning, Dunnes Stores Striker, Alison Gilliland, former Lord Mayor of Dublin, Enda Brady, Journalist and Commentator, Suzanne Harrington, Journalist and Author and more.

From choosing the right frames and to how to hang them, the Home Squad are here today to help you make your art work at home!Andrea is joined by Jenny Sheahan, Irish Examiner Columnist and former winner of ‘Home of the Year’ and Roisin Lafferty, Founder and Creative Director of Roisin Lafferty to discuss.

News broke last night that Liam Payne, the former One Direction singer, has died aged 31 in Argentina after falling from the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires.Joining Andrea to share their memories of him is Spin1038 Presenter Michaela Hayes, TV Presenter Glenda Gilson as well as listeners.

Rugby star Simon Zebo has revealed that he doesn't want his children playing rugby, as he finds the head injuries scary.The former Ireland and Munster player, who retired earlier this year, said he doesn’t want his children following in his footsteps.He said: ‘I would not push them towards playing rugby at all. What it does to your body, the head impacts, that’s the scary side of it. I’ve seen a lot of players have to retire through it, and that’s very dangerous. I don’t like it.’Is he right? How do you feel about your children playing rugby?Andrea is joined by former Irish rugby player Shane Byrne, Eva Berg from the Secret Pilates and more to discuss.

Fianna Fáil senator Catherine Ardagh has spoken out about the struggle to find a school place for her son, who has autism.She joins Andrea to discuss.

From the Jungle Book to the BBC, Ciaran O’Connor from 98fm joins Andrea Gilligan to rewind the clock!

Sad news as reports last night confirm the death of former One Direction member Liam Payne. He died at the age of 31 in Argentina after falling from a third floor balcony in a hotel in Buenos Aires.Musician, Radio Presenter and former X-Factor contestant Eoghan Quigg joins Andrea to share his memories of Liam.

For this week’s Ask the Expert, Andrea is joined by Financial Advisor with Irish Life, David Roche to answer all of your pension questions!Segment with thanks to Irish Life. To learn more or to get trusted pension advice, you can check out irishlife.ie/pensions.

Whether you are a parent or not, you have probably seen the viral TikTok lunchboxes being made for some outrageously lucky kids out there.The work and precision that goes into some of them looks incredible, but do the children eating them even notice?Joining Andrea to discuss is Journalist Niamh O’Reilly and Holly Dalton, Chef and Director of Conbini Condiments.

Prague city councillors have banned nighttime pub crawls organised by travel agencies, because the city wants to target “more cultured” tourists.The Czech capital has been a long time popular destination for noisy stag parties and pub crawlers. Prague Deputy Mayor Zdenek Hrib has said that they are now “seeking a more cultured, wealthier tourist … not one who comes for a short time only to get drunk”.What do you think about this approach? Would you like to see it come into play here in Ireland?To discuss, Andrea is joined by Ed Finn from edfinntravels.com, Adam Zabransky, Prague City Councillor, Cat Kiveney, owner and Manager of TheHen.ie & TheStag.ie, Broadcaster Stefanie Preissner, Comedian Katherine Lynch and more.

Is money a taboo topic? Would you feel comfortable telling a friend that you can't afford to go to their birthday dinner?Saoirse Hanley, Journalist with the Irish Independent has been writing about this, and joins Andrea and more 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…Image: Discover Ireland

A new report is urging the Irish government to get gas boilers, fireplaces and chimneys out of homes as soon as possible.What do you think? Is it time to get rid of boilers, fireplaces and chimneys from Irish homes?To discuss, Andrea is joined by Hugh Wallace, Director of Douglas Wallace Architects, John Sodeau, Emeritus Professor of Chemistry at UCC, Pete the Builder and more.

Welcome to The Pod Squad!We review podcasts every Tuesday so you always have something new to listen to.Stylist and Journalist Laura Mullett and Off The Ball’s Colm Boohig joined Andrea to review ‘Origins with Cush Jumbo’!Image: Sony Music Entertainment

Do you suffer from Orthosomnia? It’s the medical term for an unhealthy obsession with getting perfect sleep.It usually stems from those hooked on wearing smart devices to bed, and checking the quality of sleep the following morning.So, do you have Orthosomnia?Andrea is joined by Today FM’s Cathal Minogue and Anne Marie Boyhan, Holistic Sleep Expert, Founder of the Sleep Care Company and Author of the 'Sleep Journal' to discuss.

Is enough done to deal with abuse being hurled at referees?It’s something Yvonne Redden has been writing about in the Irish Examiner.She joins Andrea and more to discuss what kicked off this thought.

Students at a Co Louth school have pledged to continue with a protest to have a “ban” on playing Gaelic games lifted.Over 70 senior students at Dundalk Grammar School walked out of classes on Friday afternoon in protest at the school’s refusal to allow them play Gaelic football.To discuss, Andrea is joined by Sean McLean, Chairperson of Louth GAA, local Sinn Féin TD Ruairí Ó Murchú and Ronan Foley, student at the school.Image: GAA

This year on Lunchtime Live we’ve been looking at things that we can do in order to make ourselves that bit happier and healthier.This week, Andrea is joined by Paul O’Neill from the Bray Wheelers Cycling Club to discuss why you should be into cycling!

What would you think about the GPO, the most iconic building in O’Connell Street, being repurposed? Would it be better served as a world-class museum? What if it were to house a leading Government department? Would it make a good new home for RTÉ? All of these have been proposed as the new Dublin City Centre Taskforce called to redevelop the GPO as a ‘major public building’.  What do you think? What purpose would you like to see the GPO fill?To discuss, Andrea is joined by Lord Mayor of Dublin James Geoghegan, Noel Kelly, the Manager of McDowells Jewellers on O’Connell Street, Frank McDonald, Dublin Author Journalist and Rob Buchanan, who runs the Dublin Time Machine History Blog and more.

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

Emma Quirke from Kerry recently represented Ireland in Spain, but at an event you might not think of: the World Jigsaw Championships.She joins Andrea to explain more.

Thousands of babies are missing out on face-to-face developmental checks because of a lack of public health nurses…It has created a real worry that children with potentially serious health problems will fall through the cracks.Is this something that’s happened to you?To discuss, Andrea is joined by Katie Mugan, Lactation Consultant & Breastfeeding & Formula Feeding Specialist, Katie Makk from the Opinions Matter Podcast, Michelle Daly Hayes, Maternal Mental Health Advocate, Lisa O’Sullivan Shaw (@modernirishmom on Instagram) and Aideen Finnegan, Journalist and Podcast Producer with The Irish Times.

Should the state buy Rory Gallagher’s Guitar? Or is that the best way of spending taxpayers money?Tánaiste Micheál Martin has hinted that one of the State’s cultural institutions could move to buy Rory Gallagher’s signature Fender Stratocaster guitar, when it goes up for auction later this week.The guitar is being auctioned off by the Gallagher estate at an estimated price of £700,000 to £1 million…To discuss, Andrea is joined by Bernard Mulvaney from Access For All Ireland, Alan Buckley, Head Tour Guide at the Irish Rock ‘N’ Roll Museum Experience, Sheena Crowley from Crowley's Music Centre in Cork and more.Image: Bonhams