Lunchtime Live

Freelance journalist, Ellie O'Byrne, has been taking on the Eating Irish challenge for the past two years. She joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live to chat about how her third attempt at the month-long challenge is going so far...

Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by Joe, who sent an email into the show raising an issue he had around charging etiquette for electric vehicles. Kiri and Derek Reilly from Nevo also joined Andrea on the show...

All this week, Andrea is taking on the challenge of only eating Irish produce for all her meals. Today, on Lunchtime Live, Andrea got to try the best of Irish cocktails and cheese. Mixologist, Darren Geraghty, was on hand to mix-up some 100 per cent Irish cocktails. He was joined alongside Dee Laffan, food writer, who paired some beautiful Irish cheeses with the drinks.

A customer at Oscars Café Bar in Dublin, spent four and a half hours in their café and ordered two drinks and plugged 3 devices into an extension that they brought with them. When the customer was asked to plug out the plug board, they left the premises. Andrea was joined by Ronan Flood, Owner of Oscars Café Bar, Paul Treyvaud, Owner of Treyvaud’s restaurant in Killarney and other listeners to discuss this and the rising energy costs for businesses...

Every week, listeners have the opportunity to 'Ask the Expert', in a slot where our expert guest answers some of your burning questions. As the Government launch their new pension plan this week, Frank Conway, financial advisor and founder of MoneyWhizz joined Andrea to discuss the new system and hear from listeners...

Grandmother, Pat Ryan got her first tattoo recently at the age of 81. Have you done anything unusual later in life? Andrea was joined by Pat on Lunchtime Live alongside listeners Fiona, Paddy, Ann and Paul who all took on a new adventure later in life...

All this week, Andrea is taking on the challenge of only eating Irish produce for all her meals. But how hard is it to drink only Irish products too? The food we have tried all week has been delicious, but we had to give the wine a try too. Andrea visited Wicklow Way Wines, to taste some Irish made wine - made from berries...

The HSE have recommended that pregnant women who live for more than half an hour away from a hospital should no longer have the option of a home birth. Community midwives have said this will have a huge impact on women in rural areas. Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by Coco, who has had four homebirths, Shelly O’Halloran, a Doula in Limerick, David Hall, Owner of Lifeline ambulance and other listeners to discuss...

Is paid parking detrimental to towns? Or does it cut out people taking advantage of free parking? Andrea was joined by listeners on Lunchtime Live to discuss...

Sage&Stone Café in Duleek, Co Meath has banned customers wearing pyjamas on their premises. A social media post from the café reads "we draw the line at people coming to dine in our Café for breakfast wearing their pyjamas. No Pyjamas allowed." Andrea was joined by listeners to discuss wearing pyjamas out in public...

Videos circulated online last night from the Cherry Orchard area in Ballyfermot in Dublin. Phone camera footage shows two stolen cars being driven dangerously around the streets of an estate in the Dublin suburb, and eventually ramming a Garda car. Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by Brendan Cummins, a youth worker in the area, Brendan O’Connor is the President of the Garda Representative Association and other listeners to discuss the anti social behaviour in the area…

We’ve been hearing about the horrors around school bus journeys for the last few weeks. Some parents have gotten in touch with the show today because their children have additional needs and have not got a place on their school bus. Andrea was joined by Jade, who has a daughter with autism, Rosanna, a mother-of-two children with special needs and Padraig McGovern, Principal of Duleek National Girls School to discuss...

All this, Andrea is taking on the challenge of only eating Irish produce for all her meals. Yesterday she hit the shops to do a big shop and realised it was a little bit harder than she thought to get some of her staple products easily. Andrea was joined by Chairperson of Blás na hÉireann, The Irish Food Awards, Artie Clifford, to discuss buying Irish produce...

A few weeks ago, Andrea was joined by Organic Farmer, Lisa Fingleton on the show. She is challenging people to eat only Irish produce for the month of September. Her goal was to highlight how little of the food we eat is actually made here. For this whole week, Andrea is taking on the challenge of only eating Irish produce for all her meals. To learn a little more about why we’re doing this, Andrea was joined by Food Writer, Dee Laffan, alongside other listeners who got in touch with the show...

Energy companies have been slammed for increasing their standing charges by as much as €300. In some cases, customers will now have to pay as much as €700 a year – and this is all before switching on a light. Andrea was joined by listeners across the country to discuss how the rising costs will affect them...

Halloween used to be the festival of homemade costumes and cheap sweets. But it seems to be slowly becoming more and more commercialised. Are we in danger of ruining it? And turning it into just another commerical holiday? Shane Beatty was joined on Lunchtime Live by Barbara in Dublin, who is a witch, Barry, a pagan from Cork and Eimear McKeon, host of the 'Because You Were Home’ horror podcast to discuss...

Delays, lost bags, big queues and cancelled flights – anyone travelling abroad recently has likely been affected by one issue or another. Has all the glamour gone out of flying? Does all the stress associated with flying abroad actually put you off foreign holidays? Shane Beatty was joined on Lunchtime Live by listeners to discuss their experiences travelling abroad...

Jac Sinnott, a mother of two from Waterford says she is feels like she’s living a half life while trying to be an activist to receive the healthcare she needs. Jac, who was diagnosed with cavernoma on her brain last year, joined Shane Beatty on Lunchtime Live to talk about her condition and the treatment she has received thus far...

Every week, we give you the chance to #AskTheExpert. This week, we put your questions to Colin Baker, from Back from the Future about tech for your commute...

Taxi drivers in Dublin are saying that the city is getting violent, and as a result some of them are too concerned to take night shifts. Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by Jim Waldron, Spokesperson with the National Private Hire and Taxi Association and Paul, a taxi driver in Dublin to discuss this and the ongoing taxi shortages...

Some 700 GPs are due to retire in the next six years, according to the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP). At least 2,000 new GPs will be needed within the next seven years to meet existing demand. Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by listeners affected by GP shortages. Dr Aideen Brides, a GP in Monaghan town also joined the programme to discuss...

A restaurant in the UK has added carbon emissions to its menu so customers can see the environmental costs each meal has. ‘The Canteen’, in Bristol, say they want to help their customers stay informed about the global impact of their food choices by listing the carbon footprint of every dish alongside its ingredients and price. Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by listeners, Tony Keogh, head chef with Cornucopia restaurant in Dublin and Trudie Power, Chairperson of the Wexford Food Family and CEO of Trudies Kitchen to discuss bringing this in here in Ireland...

Those attending Comedian Dave Chappelle at the 3Arena tonight won’t have access to their phones. At Dave Chappelle's gigs you will be asked to silence your phone, it will then be put in a secure pouch which you can take with you but you won’t be able to open. Andrea was joined by listeners to hear their views on the policy of no phones at comedy gigs and concerts..

The National Infertility Support and Information Group (NISIG) for funding for IVF and other fertility treatments is asking to be included in the upcoming budget. At the moment, Ireland is the only state in the EU not to fund IVF. Andrea was joined by listeners who have gone through IVF and heard their experiences about the process and the cost...

All this week on Newstalk, we are hearing from people about their commutes to and from work as part of #MyCommuteNT. Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by listeners to hear about what mode of transport they us, how long it takes and how much it costs...

Is it time to update the sexual education in schools? Do we need to talk more about things like LGBTQ families and STIs? SpunOut, the organisation providing online youth information, are saying it needs to change. Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by Alex, a student who has just graduated from secondary school, Mike Edgar from SpunOut and Gemma Lawlor an RSE teacher at Tyndall College, Carlow to discuss...

Katherine, a listener in Portlaw, Co Waterford, got in touch with Lunchtime Live after the local bus service in her village was scrapped. Katherine and Daphne in Portlaw joined Andrea alongside Brian Lynch, Owner of Suirway Bus Company to discuss. Listeners also got in touch around the country about possible alternatives for rural public transport...

Sleeping separately from your partner – is it something you’re for or against? Experts have urged couples not to share the same bed if they want to improve their quality of sleep. Andrea was joined on the show by journalist, Chrissie Russell and listeners to discuss...

Country music star, Garth Brooks took to the stage in Croke Park at the weekend for three of his five headline gigs in Ireland. Andrea, who went to all three nights, was joined by listeners and fans across the country to chat about their experience...

A Government-appointed commission on taxation has recommended that there should be a substantial reduction in the amount of money that parents can leave to their children tax free. At the moment a child can inherit €335,000 from their parents before they have to pay tax at 33% - could this be something that should be reduced? Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by Rosemary McDonagh, IFA Farm business Committee, Eddie Punch, General Secretary of The Irish Cattle & Sheep Farmers' Association and listeners to discuss how inheritance tax might affect them...

Aidan, a listener, emailed the show to talk about his annoyance over people’s behaviour on public transport. Listening to music without headphones, eating and leaving rubbish on them. He wants something to be done about it. Andrea was also joined on Lunchtime Live by Green Party Councillor, Michael Pidgeon and other listeners to discuss...

A school in the UK has reportedly banned skirts and brought in a “trousers only” rule for pupils which has caused anger among parents. Haywood Academy, in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent has banned all pupils in the school from wearing skirts as it reopened for the new academic year. Andrea was joined by Siobhan O'Neill White of Mams.ie, Barbara Ennis, Principal of Alexandra College in Dublin and other listeners to discuss...

The one and only Garth Brooks is set to play Croke Park tonight, tomorrow night, Sunday night and next Friday and Saturday. It’s expected over 400,000 country fans will descend on the GAA grounds which astonishingly equates to almost 8% of the population. Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by singer Michael English, Declan Manton and other listeners who are going to the shows...

Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by listeners who are having issues booking bus and train tickets online with their free travel pass...

After the passing of Queen Elizabeth II yesterday, tributes are being paid around the world. Andrea was joined by listeners to recount their memories of meeting the monarch...

John Lowe, The Money Doctor, joined Andrea for this week's 'Ask The Expert' slot to answer listeners questions about mortgages...

Are you having difficulty getting swimming lessons for your child? Annette, a listener, joined Andrea on the show to chat about how hard it is to get swimming lessons for their children. Andrea was also joined on the show by Patrick and Carol who both teach swimming lessons and George Robinson, Group Marketing Manager of Aura Leisure...

What is the cost of learning to drive? In Ireland, you have to take the driver theory test, take an eye test, pay for a learners permit, get driving lessons and then take the test itself. And lets hope you pass that on the first time around, cause it can be expensive. And then you’ve to pay for your actual driver’s licence. Why is it so expensive? Andrea was joined by listeners to discuss...

Christy, a listener, in Letterkenny got in touch with the programme over a concern he has around some tickets he bought on the website Viagogo. Christy and Newstalk's Technology Correspondent Jess Kelly joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live to discuss ticket touts and reselling above face value...

Officials from the National Parks and Wildlife Service have raised concerns at Dublin Zoo following their most recent inspection. They found medicines with no expiry dates, animals from social species being housed alone, an unclean water trough and inadequate ventilation. Is it time that we closed down zoos? Or are they important for education and animal conservation? Clare McKenna was joined on Lunchtime Live by listeners to discuss...

As the school run starts back and more of us are going into the office, there’s calls for more to be done to make cycling safer in Ireland. In rural parts of the country for example, there’s often no cycle lanes and narrow roads. Clare McKenna was joined by listeners on Lunchtime Live to discuss cycling infrastructure in Ireland...

Once considered solely American practices – baby showers and gender reveal parties are now becoming more and more popular here in Ireland. How do you feel about these practices crossing the Atlantic? Clare McKenna was joined on Lunchtime Live by Chrissy Russell, journalist and mother, Sinead Lyons, from Polkadot events and other listeners to discuss...

Dublin Fire Brigade have posted about rescuing a man in his 70s after he had become trapped in his home for about 14 hours due to hoarding of belongings. Clare McKenna was joined on Lunchtime Live by Fiona Hall, Psychotherapist and owner of Consciously Clearing Decluttering. Listener, Paul also joined the show to discuss his own hoarding habits...

Andrea was joined on the show by Cormac Lally, who is a poet and a spoken word artist but for the last 10 years he has also been working as a wedding speech writer. He counts pro-rugby players, TV pundits and MMA fighters among his clients. Cormac and other listeners gave their tips to writing a good wedding speech.

‘No construction workwear and/or tools are permitted in the in-store seating area’ – this was a sign seen in a FRESH store. What do you think? Is it fair to have a ‘dress code’ or is it unfair on construction workers? Andrea was joined by listeners to discuss..

The countdown is well and truly on for Garth Brook’s Dublin gigs this weekend. But, he will have no support acts for any of the 5 concerts. The Music and Entertainment Association of Ireland say that it’s not good enough and it is an enormous stage and that it would be a great opportunity to raise the profile of an Irish support act. Matt McGranaghan, Spokesperson for the Music and Entertainment Association of Ireland and David James, country music singer and singer, Aoife Brady joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live to discuss..

Organic farmer Lisa Fingleton is challenging people to eat only Irish produce for a month, to highlight how little of the food we eat is actually made here. She wants us to think harder about what we eat, and where it comes from. Andrea was joined by Lisa and other listeners on the show to discuss the ways in which we can incorporate more Irish produce into our diet.

Our listener Lucy was scrolling Twitter when something caught her eye – her own handwriting on a book. Declan Cashin had posted a picture of a book inscription he found inside the book. With little help from social media, the book was reunited with its owner. Together they joined Andrea on the show to share their story.

As schools are starting back there are calls for the areas around them to make car-free. Has the traffic at the school gates gotten too dangerous? Would this make things safer for kids? What has been your experience of dropping children to school? A few schools have done it and we talked with them on our show.

Have you been hit with high hospital car parking fees? Childhood cancer Ireland is calling for car parking charges to be scrapped, with some parents saying they’ve been stung with daily charges in excess of €30. Laura Cullinan, mother of 10-year-old Isobel, diagnosed with cancer was charged with a hospital car parking fee and she joined Andrea on the show.