Lunchtime Live

Catholic Bishops over the weekend expressed concern that old people were being treated like a burden in conversations around assisted dying. They’ve said it leaves them feeling vulnerable and even like bed blockers. Is this really how we treat our elderly? Journalist, Valerie Cox and People Before Profit TD, Gino Kenny joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live to discuss...

A café in London has banned dairy products completely because they say that the mass production of animal milk is cruel and unethical. Some cafés in Dublin have also been spotted trialling only offering milk alternatives in place of dairy milk. Andrea was joined by Louise Crowley, Full Time Dairy Farmer, Gerry Boland, Animal Rights Campaigner, Founder and Spokesperson of Animals Behind Closed Doors, Darina McCafferty, owner of vegetarian restaurant Cornucopia and others to discuss...

A GAA coach in Carlow has been criticized after telling his under 17 team that if he saw there name down for the soccer squad, they wouldn’t be playing in a county final this evening. Do you agree with him? Or should young people be encouraged to participate in more than one sport? Andrea was joined by Cllr Frank Quinlan, Fine Gael Councillor in Waterford, Tim Barry, Club chairman with Rathdowney-Errill GAA, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Labour TD and Hughie in Wicklow to discuss...

The pandemic impacted us all in different ways but for some it reignited a love for the outdoors and brought them closer to nature during a time of instability. With 40 per cent of people taking up a new outdoor activity since the beginning of Covid-19, has the pandemic changed our relationship with the outdoors forever? Andrea was joined by Deirdre, Jane, Mary, Sandie and Matthew to discuss their new found love for the outdoors...

September has been polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) awareness month. It’s also known as PCOS, and I must admit, I really don’t know much about it. I know it’s a hormone issue that can cause complications when trying to get pregnant. But not much else. I’ve no idea how many people it affects or how it can be treated. I’m joined now by Nicola who has PCOS. Nicola when were you diagnosed?

There have been complaints in Killarney that the busking there has gotten out of control. Some businesses are even turning up their speakers outside to drown them out. Should there be more rules around buskers? Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by Marie Moloney, Former Mayor and local Councillor in Killarney, Niall O’Callaghan, Owner of the Failte Hotel in Killarney and David Owens, Busker & Musician to discuss...

The rapper Coolio has died. He was a regular resident of Dublin in recent years too. He was working on a song with Christy Dignam from Aslan and worked with Dublin rappers Versatile too. He said he loved the city, and was even spotted in a Dublin jersey once. Jonathan Smith, owner of Ernestos Cafe and Joe Ballance, from the Hard Rock Hotel in Templebar Dublin joined Andrea to tell their memories of the rapper...

Every week, we give you the chance to put your questions to the experts. This week, Andrea puts your rail travel queries to Barry Kenny from Irish Rail...

Despite all the doom and gloom about the cost of living in Ireland, the number of Irish people returning to the Emerald Isle is at its highest level since 2007. On the other hand, there is an almost equal number of Irish people emigrating in search of a better life, with 28,300 leaving during the same period. Andrea was joined by Rebecca Roche who recently moved to New York, Patricia who moved home to Ireland after living in France and Denise, who is making the move Australia soon..

Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly is planning to extend free contraception scheme to 16-year-old girls, even though the current age of consent is 17. The change is set to come into effect from 1 September 2023. With the legal age for accessing free contraception being lowered, should we also be looking at lowering the age of consent? Andrea was joined by Emer Neville from the Irish Second Level Students Union, Dr. Catherine O’Sullivan, from the School of Law at UCC and listener Neil, to discuss...

We’ve been hearing many stories recently of students unable to find college accommodation. Some are sleeping in their cars, some doing huge daily commutes and some even deferred places because they couldn’t make it work. But, it’s not just the students, it’s the teachers too. Andrea was joined by Niall Kennedy, a teaching fellow at Trinity College Dublin, who is staying in a hostel while he is teaching in Dublin...

Do you have a difficult relationship with your in-laws? If that is the case there may be some light at the end of the tunnel. Aisling Burke and mother-in-law Ann McDonnell, started their relationship off on rocky ground, but they have now found something they have in common and their relationship is better than ever. Aisling Burke, Life coach, Mark Fennell and other listeners joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live to share their experiences...

The provision of housing for native Irish speakers in the Gaeltacht is “one of the greatest threats” to Irish language survival in Gaeltacht areas. That’s according to the regional authority responsible for the development of the countries Gaeltacht regions. Údaras na Gaeltachta say young people are being forced out of the area because of poor planning regulation. Irish Musician, Breanndán Begly, Donegal Councillor, Micheál Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig, Dr Aoife Granville, Gaeltacht native and Marie in Cork, all joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live to discuss...

Last night the Wexford GAA chair Micheál Martin invited the county’s referees to a meeting to discuss the recent violence. He joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live alongside Brian, a listener in Carlow to discuss the future of how those who abuse referees are disciplined...

Andrea was joined by Gayle, a listener in Dublin and Rachel Morrogh, Irish Cancer Society Director of Advocacy, to discuss the announcements from yesterday's Budget...

Maynooth University have announced that construction on their new student centre, which was due to be completed next year, has been terminated. The project was being funded through an annual student levy of €150, which the University have been taking since 2015. Many students and former students are using the hashtag #WheresMyLevy online to voice their anger that their student levy payments have, seemingly, come to nothing. Andrea was joined by Maynooth Students’ Union President Niall Daly, Aoife, a final year student and former students Aedraen and Fintan to discuss...

Do digital assistants having female voices – like Siri and Alexa – teach a new generation to view women as subservient? Dr Kate Devlin, Writer and Reader in AI and Society and Rachel Moran, Author and Feminist campaigner joined Andrea to discuss why smart devices have female voices...

There have been more incidents of violence towards referees in GAA games over the weekend. There were issues during games in Mayo, Kerry and Wexford that are all being looked into. Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by Martin Quilty, Kilkenny based GAA and Camogie Referee, Nickey Brennan, Former GAA president and Antonio Mantero, Castleknock Celtic Coach and Founder of ‘Silent Sideline’ to discuss what is happening and what can we do to change it...

As we near the end of September, most students that are moving out for college will have done so by now. And a lot of homes around the country will be looking different. For many parents this will be the first time they’ve had no children living at home with them. And, for the first time, a lot of them will be dealing with empty nest syndrome. Andrea was joined by listeners, Claire, Sandra and Orla to discuss...

The budget is due to be announced tomorrow. One measure being introduced includes the State providing free school books for all primary school students from next September onwards. Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live to discuss the new free school books scheme and other measures being brought in under Budget 2023…

All this week, Andrea is taking on the challenge of only eating Irish produce for all her meals. Today, on Lunchtime Live, Andrea spoke to those producing Irish food and drink around the country. David Walsh-Kemmis from Ballykilcavan Brewery in Laois, Michael Delaney from Jolly Bogs in Longford, Pat Rigney, Founder of The Shed Distillery in Co Leitrim, Ruth, Farmer Time Co-Ordinator and Jordan Bailey, Chef at Aimsir all joined Andrea on the show...

Beauty writer Laura Kennedy wrote a piece in The Irish Times today about getting botox. She says it has undeniable effects and makes her look so much better. Is the stigma on botox lessening? Has it become totally normal now? Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by Marie, who has been getting botox for the past 15 years, Mark, who has been getting it for three years and Dr Patrick Treacy, Medical Director of the Ailesbury Clinic to discuss...

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...

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...

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...

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...