Lunchtime Live
5,202 episodes — Page 93 of 105
'The shortage of GPs is biting hard, particularly in rural Ireland'
Recommendations were made last week about how people shouldn’t go to A&E unless it was absolutely necessary. Today, GPs are under so much pressure that people around the country can’t get an appointment. What is going wrong with the healthcare system at the moment and what needs to happen for something to change? Andrea was joined by GPs and listeners on the show to discuss...
Cork City street 'disgusting' with litter on weekends
Litter strewn streets, dumped dirty nappies – results of the Irish Business Against Litter survey released this morning show that Mahon in Cork city is the dirtiest part of Ireland, while Naas in Kildare has retained it's title of the cleanest town in Ireland. What needs to be done about litter and dumping? Andrea was joined by Fine Gael Councillor in Cork City Centre, Deirdre Forde, Vourneen Hennessy from Naas Tidy Towns and other listeners to discuss...
'Ireland is a very scary place to be a young woman'
This week marks one year since the killing of Ashling Murphy – since then 11 women have been killed across the country. Do women feel safe in Ireland? Andrea was joined by Newstalk reporter Mairead Cleary and other women to discuss how safe they feel in Ireland nowadays…
Ask The Expert: Health Insurance
With the hospitals in the state they’re in, have people any other options? Dermot Goode from Total Health Cover, part of the Lockton Group joined Andrea to answer some listener questions...
Light pollution 'can have a big impact' on wildlife - Birdwatch Ireland
Light pollution can be hindrance if it’s something that affects where you live. Recently, there have an increase in the use of strong LED lighting on billboards and petrol stations. Andrea was joined by listeners Eddie, Diana and Niall Hatch from Birdwatch Ireland to discuss... Image: An LED billboard in Rathmines. Picture by: Rory O'Farrell.
Businesswoman says 'no logic' in replacing bus lanes in Ranelagh
New bike lanes for Dublin city will remove bus lanes and car parking in some busy parts of the city. Bus lanes in Ranelagh and car parking at Merrion Square will go for the new Dublin City Council “active travel” plans. One of the routes goes from Clonskeagh to the city centre route, through Milltown and Ranelagh Village. The other goes from Trinity College to Ballsbridge, through Nassau Street. There are concerns from commuters that this could cause chaos. While others say it’s a much needed update. Andrea was joined by listeners on the show to discuss...
Throuples: 'It's up to you and the people you're involved with to set boundaries'
The Sun is reporting today that Irish singer Una Healy is part of a ‘throuple’ with ex-heavyweight boxing champion David Haye and model Sian Osborne. The newspaper also says that the trio have told family and friends of their arrangement Andrea was joined by Dr Kate Devlin to discuss polyamory…
Bullying in the workplace
The Workplace Bullying Institute has found that up to 80% of women that are bullied in the workplace are bullied by other women. Other recent studies have shown that women who report to women experience a greater frequency of bullying, so much so that a new term, 'Queen Bee Syndrome', has been coined. Have you experienced workplace bullying? Andrea was joined by Terry Prone, Chairman of The Communications Clinic and other listeners to discuss...
Local resident 'appalled' by anti-refugee protest in Drimnagh
Anti-refugee protests at a Dublin school started a few days ago over their housing of refugees over the Christmas break. Two groups of up to 30 refugees were temporarily placed in the hall of the school by the Department of Children during the Christmas break. Misinformation began circulating on social media claiming bus loads of men were being shipped into the area. Everyone had left the school by Tuesday evening and children weren’t due back until today. But protestors showed up regardless. Andrea was joined by local People Before Profit Councillor Hazel De Nortúin and Edel, who lives locally to discuss… Image: Google Maps
Kenny: Excrement attack 'is simply scandalous'
Bags of excrement were reportedly thrown Minister Anne Rabbitte and Fine Gael TD Ciaran Cannon yesterday at a meeting in Galway. Is politics becoming scarier for public representatives? Andrea was joined by Sinn Féin TD Martin Kenny, Vivienne Phelan, Director of Women’s Engagement and Future Candidate Development of Young Fine Gael, Nelius Cotter, Membership and Recruitment Director with Fianna Fail Ógra and other listeners to discuss... Image: Mark Marlow/Rollingnews
Calls for dog insurance and compulsory GPS tracking
Cork County Council are calling for it to be compulsory for dog owners to have to insure their dogs, in the case of a dog attacking other animals or people. Would you support this decision? Andrea was joined by listeners around the country to discuss dog insurance and GPS tracking on dogs...
Millennials are using astrology 'as a tool for understanding and self-development'
With the New Year upon us, people will be looking to reinvent themselves and grab every opportunity with both hands. Is there a way to predict what lies ahead and can your star sign help you do that? Do you read your star sign regularly? Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by Margaret Grey, psychological astrologist to discuss what your star sign means for you...
Man with pneumonia spent 6 hours on a trolley with no blanket
The latest INMO trolley watch count recorded 838 people waiting without a bed in hospitals today. Andrea was joined by Martina Hennessy, consultant physician in St. James Hospital and listeners to discuss...
'In the long term they don't work' - Impact of weight loss groups
Are weight loss a help or a hindrance when you’re struggling with weight? Saoirse Hanley wrote in the Irish Independent today how she feels that joining one was the worst thing she ever did for her health. Saoirse Hanley and other listeners joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live to discuss...
Children's Hospital parking fee 'should be waived for long term and frequent visitors'
Parking at the New Children’s Hospital will apparently cost €10 a day. The cost will be graded according to how long parents have to park there, but the daily fee will still be €10. Is this a fair cost to impose on families? Should parking be subsidised? Or even free? Andrea was joined by parents affected by parking costs at hospitals in the past to discuss…
Controversy over Wolfe Tones song 'blown out of proportion'
Leinster rugby issued an apology immediately after the controversial Wolfe Tones song 'Celtic Symphony', which features the lyrics 'Ooh Ah, Up the Ra' was played over the tannoy at the RDS after their win over Connacht on Sunday. Brian Warfield from The Wolfe Tones has suggested apologising for singing 'Celtic Symphony' is trying to 'erase the IRA from everywhere.' Andrea was joined by listeners to discuss…
Chef Edward Hayden's Christmas Tips
Chef Edward Hayden joined Andrea to give some of his tips and tricks to make Christmas in the kitchen as stress free as possible...
Pub owner says ‘absolutely no way’ they would open Christmas Day
Christmas Day can be a lonely time for some people who aren't spending it with others. Would having an outlet like the local pub help those to meet with others so that they too can enjoy the spirit of Christmas? Or would people abuse it and spend the day drinking? Andrea was joined by listeners to discuss...
Last Minute Christmas Gift Guide
We’re only 3 days away from Christmas. If you’re still on the hunt for a few gifts, never fear! We’ve enlisted the help of Denise O’Donoghue, Features Writer with the Irish Examiner…
Is Irish society ageist?
Former Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan says both politics and society are ageist after a Cabinet reshuffle that did nothing to reward “experience and wisdom”. He said “In my profession of politics, there is huge focus at election time on the youth vote, as though older people matter little and have nothing to contribute.” Has he got a point? Is Irish society ageist? Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by listeners to discuss…
Ban on phones 'would only serve to hurt people who need them'
Would you like to see more places ban mobile phones? Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has banned Ministers from their phones in to Cabinet meetings. Andrea Gilligan was joined on Lunchtime Live by listeners to discuss…
'There's no time limit on grief' - Remembering loved ones at Christmas
Grief is something we discuss a lot on this programme. The more we talk about and share our grief, the more people will free comfortable talking about it. Grief at Christmas seems even more compounded. The missing loved one feels even more missed. Andrea was joined by Sharon on Lunchtime Live to talk about her daughter Grace…
'It's happening all your life' - Irish boxer refused from Dublin nightclub
Have you ever felt discriminated against because of your accent or where you come from? Professional Irish boxer, Thomas Carty posted a tweet online about an experience he had being refused from a nightclub after saying where he was from. Thomas joined Andrea Gilligan on Lunchtime Live to discuss…
Is it hypocritical to only attend mass at Christmas?
Is it hypocritical to only attend mass on Christmas Day? Newstalk’s Simon Tierney joined Andrea Gilligan to discuss a tweet he posted about this online. Andrea was also joined by other listeners on the show to discuss this…
'Teachers should be paid according to where they are working'
The teacher shortage – felt around the country – is particularly bad in Dublin city. One recent survey by the Irish Primary Principals’ Network found that 65pc of Dublin schools are unable to fill all their teaching posts. Would have a different pay scale for those working in cities, to offset the price of accommodation, help to keep teachers in Dublin? Andrea was joined by listeners to discuss…
Are dryrobes acceptable in public settings?
Are dry robes the next in line to be banned in public settings outside of the seaside? People have been spotted donning their dry robes walking the dogs, in the shops aand most recently in pubs. But is there a place for them in public settings? Andrea was joined by listeners to discuss…
Dumpster diving to 'combat the waste' from supermarkets
Coming up to Christmas we’re all going to buy too much food. We know it, there’ll be tons of leftovers, food that’ll sit in the fridge for days. We'll go overboard on the cheese and the chocolates too. However, Irish households create 250,000 tonnes of food waste every year. Andrea was joined by some listeners doing their best to tackle food waste…
Alexis Mac Allister's family celebrate 'magnificent' World Cup victory
A north county Dublin town woke up this morning with a grin on its face. Donabate is the ancestral home of Argentinian World Cup winner, midfielder Alexis Mac Allister. Henry McKean visited the cottage his relatives used to live in and met his cousins, including Noel Mac Allister who is overjoyed...
'Look beyond the homelessness and look to the person'
Paul, a listener, got in touch with the show about something he saw happening involving a homeless person last week. Andrea was joined by Paul, Lorraine, who runs a soup kitchen at the GPO and Kenny, who was homeless for 10 years to discuss...
Christmas Plans for Newlyweds
The tradition for married couples to go to their wives for the first Christmas together could be outdated but what is the ‘’done thing’’ when deciding whose in-laws to stay with. Do married couples go their respective ways until kids come into the picture? Andrea was joined by listeners to discuss…
‘We’re going to have to make it less attractive to get into the car’
The Transport Minister has said he is 'going for' a plan to take one in five cars off Irish roads by 2030. It is part of targets in an updated Climate Action Plan under Minister Eamon Ryan. Drafts of the plan have set a 20% reduction in cars to cut emissions. Andrea was joined by Cllr Donna Cooney, Green Party Councillor for Clontarf, Brian Cooke is the Director General of the Society of Irish Motor Industry and other listeners to discuss…
Woman waiting for biopsy results 'going through hell'
Terry, a listener, got in touch with the show via email. Terry is currently waiting on a pet-scan and also the results of two biopsies taken from a nodule in her lungs and enlarged lymph nodes. Terry joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live to discuss her experience…
Haggling: 'I like to pay the least amount of money for something'
Is haggling dead? The process of bartering was once commonplace in Ireland but now seems to be something that makes us Irish uncomfortable and is seen as confrontational. Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by listeners to discuss the hard-art of haggling…
'Politics and sport should be kept apart!' - Will you boycott the World Cup Final?
The final of the World Cup is taking place this weekend. Argentina are taking on France this Sunday in a World Cup that has been marred in controversy. Columnist Ian O’Doherty told Newstalk Breakfast why he was boycotting the World Cup in Qatar this year: Did you boycott the World Cup? Did you stick to your guns? Is it possible to separate sports from politics? Andrea was joined by listeners to discuss…
'There's a lot of mum-shaming' - Online parenting forums causing anxiety
Academics in California have warned new mothers against the over-use of online parenting forums. This follows research that found that mothers who regularly logged on to parenting websites were more stressed as a result of comparing themselves to others. Andrea was joined by Siobhan O'Neill White from Mams.ie and other mothers to discuss...
‘An utterly broken hearted military community today’
An Irish peacekeeper has died in Lebanon and another has been seriously injured, the Department of Defence has announced. The deceased has been named as 23-year-old Seán Rooney from County Donegal. While, 22 year old private Shane Kearney from Killeagh in County Cork remains in a critical but stable condition . Late on Wednesday, a convoy of two Armoured Utility Vehicles with eight personnel onboard came under fire while travelling to Beirut. Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by Kevin Byrne, Retired Lieutenant Colonel who served in Lebanon and Shelley Cotter, who’s family members are part of the naval service…
Wedding Afters: 'You are certainly a b-list'
In a tweet online, one user asked ‘What goes through your mind when you receive an invite to the "afters" of a wedding?’ A lot of people in the comments actually seemed annoyed and insulted that they weren't asked for the entire day. How do you feeling about wedding ‘afters’? Would you be insulted if you were asked to them? Andrea was joined by listeners to discuss…
Woman had dog stolen and 'smuggled over to the UK'
Thieves who steal pets could face minimum of 10 months' jail under new legislation being brought before the Dáil. There was a noticeable spike in pet theft during Covid, particularly dogs, after many people spent more money on expensive breeds during lockdown. Would you like to see stricter sentences for pet thieves? Andrea was joined by listeners on Lunchtime Live to discuss...
Should catcalling be made illegal in Ireland?
Catcalling and street harassment is set to be made punishable by up to 2 years in prison in the UK. The newly proposed law is part of the British Government’s attempts to crackdown on public sexual harassment. Should catcalling be made illegal in Ireland? Andrea was joined by listeners to discuss…
Hosting the perfect Christmas dinner
The big day is almost upon us. For many it will be almost 2 years since we have been able to have a normal Christmas celebration. Some out there will be hosting Christmas Day for the very first time. Have you got any advice or tips for people hosting Christmas dinner? Are you doing it for the first time this year yourself? Andrea was joined by Tara O’Connor from The Designed Table, sisters Jenny and Diane and other listeners to discuss…
Family left stranded in German airport by airline
There have been lots of airline disruptions over the past few days due to the cold weather. Andrea was joined by Lisa, Sarah and other listeners to discuss their experiences...
'They're shaking the house' - Residents protest flights on North Runway
Residents of North Dublin gathered outside the Fingal County Council office in Swords last night to demand a solution over the airport noise. They say planes have been using different flight paths to the ones that got planning permission. And that the noise is unbearable. Residents joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live to explain what it is like living near the runways…
Closure of clinic 'devastating' for Long Covid sufferer
The Long Covid Clinic being run by Professor Jack Lambert in the Mater Hospital will shut down at the end of this month due to a lack of funding. Sufferers feel like they’ve been forgotten about. Andrea was joined by Patricia who got treatment for long Covid in France, John who's wife is suffering from long Covid and Grainne Kelly, a triathlete living with long Covid...
'I have vaped in churches' - Should vaping indoors be banned?
A listener, Chloe, got in touch with the show about second hand vaping she saw during a concert in the 3Arena. She said: “I was there on Saturday night for the 2 Johnnies and there were countless people vaping, including the two men sitting directly in front of us.” Do you have a problem with people vaping indoors? Be it a concert venue or even your local pub? Andrea was joined by listeners to discuss…
Restaurants 'need more than one option' for vegetarians
Is there a lack of vegetarian and vegan options on Irish menus? Writer and broadcaster, Barbara Scully joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live after she voiced her annoyance about lack of options for vegetarians in Irish hotels. Other listeners also got in touch about difficulties they have when dining out...
Doctor says icy footpaths causing 'an increase' in fractures
A Status Orange low temperature/ice warning is due to remain in place for the whole country until midday today. The drop in temperature has seen icy footpaths appearing all around the country. Many footpaths seem to be un-gritted, despite the main roads being done. Andrea was joined by listeners around the country to discuss...
'Animals are not ours to abuse' - Calls to ban horse drawn carriages
An animal rights group is calling for an end to horse and carriages. The National Animal Rights Association tweeted a picture of a horse and cart in Dublin saying: ‘Ban horse carriages in Dublin! We spotted this poor horse on Grafton Street today. She was in lashing rain, no sign of the horse carriage driver, no food, no water, tied so as to inhibit her ability to move her head, and with stupid Christmas “antlers” between her ears. This cannot continue. Horse carriages have been banned in cities in other countries, Ireland needs to be next.’ Andrea was joined by Vegan Animal Rights Activist Catherine Woods and other listeners to discuss…
The Office Christmas Party
After 2 long years- the Christmas Party is back! Do you enjoy your work Christmas party? Do you even go? Sinead Ryan, Presenter of the Home Show here on Newstalk and Kirsty Blake Knox, Journalist with the Irish Independent joined Andrea to discuss...
'You never see a Garda!' - Farmers being targeted by trespassers
Should there be harsher punishments for trespassing? Gardaí are advising farmers 'not to take law into their own hands' over gang issues, but is enough being done to protect them? Andrea Gilligan was joined by Mary Kissane, Willie O'Donoghue and other listeners to discuss...
Whatsapp Groups: 'We live in a culture of oversharing'
Members of the Irish Countrywomen’s Association have told members to be careful what they post in local WhatsApp conversations. They have warned against airing grievances about individual members or the organisation in social media chat groups. Are we cautious enough of the messages we send or the things we share in WhatsApp group conversations? Listeners got in touch with Clare McKenna to discuss on Lunchtime Live…