Lunchtime Live

Should people who drive bigger cars have to pay more to park them? It’s one idea being floated by Dublin City Council, to disincentivise people from driving higher polluting cars into the city. Is it further punishing people who need to use bigger cars for work? Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by Brian Caulfield, Associate Professor, Civil Struct & Environmental Engineering, Donna Cooney, Green Party Councillor for Clontarf and others to discuss…

Residents in Balbriggan are objecting to the construction of a new playground in the local area because they fear it’ll attract antisocial behaviour. Andrea was joined by residents Paul and Lukas to discuss. They were joined alongside Catherine, from the Liberties Residents Association and others...

What do you do with a loved ones social media accounts when they pass away? Unfortunately it was a situation Donna Ahern found herself in when her twin sister Susan died last year. Donna joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live to discuss her experience...

Dublin man Edward O’Reilly says that he should have been bringing his three newborn babies home from Kenya, but instead – all he brought home is their birth certs. Edward, whose babies were born via surrogacy has been left devastated after the service he used demanded a further €16,000 despite him already paying €50,000. Edward joined Andrea on the show to tell his story...

A woman in the US has caused a storm online recently demanding a refund for having to sit between two overweight people. American Airlines in turn, provided her with a refund. Have you experienced travelling as an overweight person or have you been sat beside someone who was overweight on an airplane? Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by Robert and Nicola to discuss...

One of the main streets in our capital city has been dubbed as dangerous and full of druggies and crime in the Dáil. O’Connell Street in Dublin has long been seen as somewhere in desperate need of help and regeneration, but the problem is thought to be getting worse. Andrea was joined by Fine Gael TD, Paul Keogh, Gary Gannon Social Democrats TD for Dublin Central and other listeners to discuss...

A video online has sparked controversy after Comedian Fabu-D challenged a homeless man to complete the press up challenge for money. In the video, the man does 20 pushups, and Fabu-D gives him €20. People have called for the video to boycotted, while others have said it’s an overreaction. Comedian Fabu-D and Glenda Harrington, from Friends Helping Friends joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live...

Tánaiste, Leo Varadkar has been mocked online after revealing his partner Matt Barrett’s meal prep for the week. However, the fact that none of the containers have lids has caused such a stir that even the Food Safety Authority given their advice online. Andrea was joined by Chef, Edward Hayden, Odile Le Bolloch, environmental scientist with the Environmental Protection Agency and Holly White, vegan chef and lifestyle blogger to discuss...

Is €250 too steep for a restaurant cancellation fee? A Michelin star restaurant in Cork charged a couple that fee after the cancelled their booking with only half an hour's notice. The reason given for the cancellation was that they had to make an emergency trip to A&E. Is it fair for restaurants to have cancellation fees? Andrea was joined by Paul Treyvaud, Owner of Treyvaud’s restaurant in Killarney, Anthony Gray, Owner, Eala Bhan and Hooked Restaurants in Sligo, Stephen McMahon, Co Founder of the Irish Patients Association and listener Fiona on Lunchtime Live…

Our shopping habits have completely changed in recent years, with more of us choosing to buy online rather than in store. And about half of us have said Covid has increased our likelihood to shop online instead. However, a lot of online fashion brands only show their clothes one type of model, leaving people guessing what size to purchase. Andrea was joined by journalist, Anna Carey, Laura Mullet, fashion expert for RSVP Magazine and Ireland AM stylist and Brendan Courtney, presenter and fashion designer to discuss...

A man is alleged to have grabbed a 9 year old boy by the throat during hurling blitz in Tipperary at the weekend. Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by listeners to discuss abuse in the GAA at juvenile level and what needs to be done to resolve it...

Geoff, an American joined Adrian Kennedy on Lunchtime Live to discuss the treatment of people from the US in Ireland. He says when people providing services hear his accent charge more money.. Adrian also heard from other listeners from the US, UK and even South Africa about the treatment they have received since they arrived here...

Apparently, 'Thank You' notes are becoming a thing of the past. Do you still write thank you notes, or is a quick and handy text ‘thanks’ the way to go? Adrian Kennedy was joined by author, Martina Devlin, etiquette expert, Tina Koumarianos and author, Sheila O’Flanagan to discuss...

The Government is telling us that they want more and more people to take public transport. They are encouraging people to leave their cars behind – but is the service that is there already buckling under the stress of those of us who do decide to take public transport? Listeners Marian, Dan and Daniel all joined Adrian Kennedy on the line from Cork...

Every week, we give you the chance to put your questions to the experts. This week, Adrian Kennedy put your queries to Property Expert and Buyer's Agent, Liz O'Kane...

David Quinn, Columnist with the Irish Catholic and Sunday Times, wants the State to help Churches in paying their energy bill this winter. David joined Adrian Kennedy on Lunchtime Live to discuss...

Is it time to start ratting out your neighbours for leaving rubbish out for bonfires? Ballyfermot Drimnagh Councillor for Sinn Féín, Daithí Doolan warned about stockpiling this morning on Newstalk Breakfast. Are bonfires a problem in your area? Adrian Kennedy was joined by Bill Clear, Social Democrats Councillor for Kildare County Council and Vice Chair of Naas Tidy Towns and Mark, a council worker in Dublin to discuss...

Thousands of students around the country have staged a walk out today over issues they say aren’t being resolved. They’re protesting about the state of student accommodation and the cost of education during a cost-of-living crisis. Adrian Kennedy was joined on Lunchtime Live by Mark Dunne, Student President at South East Technological University, Brian Jordan Student Union President at TU Dublin and Asha Woodhouse, UCC Student Union President to discuss...

Videos have been circulating on social media of the Irish women's national soccer team singing an offensive song in their dressing room after their win against Scotland last night. The Football Association of Ireland and manager Vera Pauw have since apologised. Andrea was joined by Mark Tighe, News reporter with the Sunday Independent, Cllr Alan Haye, Councillor for South Dublin County Council and other listeners to discuss...

The Football Association of Ireland has apologised, after players on the Women's National Team were seen signing an offensive song following their World Cup qualifier on Tuesday. Brian Warfield from The Wolfe Tones, who wrote the song joined Andrea to give his to the events in the dressing room...

Fiona, a listener, got in touch with Lunchtime Live after reading Jen Hogan's article in The Irish Times about children being sidelined playing juvenile sport. Fiona's son was dropped from his local soccer team and she told Andrea about how it has affected him...

How long have you had your tupperware? Philip Nolan tweeted that his sister still has the Tupperware bowls that they had when they were kids. Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by Philip Nolan, journalist with the Irish Daily Mail, Writer and Artist Taryn De Vere and listener, Margaret to discuss...

History was made last night as the Ireland’s women football team qualified for the World Cup for the first time. Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by Shaun Paul Barrett, Amber Barrett's Dad, Noel Gillespie from Milford FC, Tony Poutch, who coached Aine O’Gorman and Alan Moore, Blessingon FC Club Chairperson...

Staff from nursing homes all around the country have gathered outside the Department of Health this afternoon in protest about the pandemic payment. Thousands of employees still haven’t gotten the promised €1,000 for working on the front line throughout the pandemic. Andrea was joined by Julie McNeela, Household Manager at Aras Mhuire Nursing Facility, Drogheda, Eileen Doyle, Healthcare Assistant at Knockeen Nursing Home, Co Wexford, Jim O' Brien, Chef at Darraglynn Nursing Home, Cork and others to discuss…

Should we put seagulls on the pill? That is one suggestion from Dublin Councillor Aoibhinn Tormey. She says that there is a huge problem with gulls attacking people for food in Howth and she wants to dispense contraceptive pellets to limit the seagull population. Savlatore Donzi, from Beshoff Bros Howth, Cllr Keith Connolly, Dublin City Councillor, Noel in Cork, Vincent in Dublin and others to discuss…

Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by comedian and writer Orla Doherty. Orla is speaking at Shine Festival today – which is an empowering event for the young women and girls of Ireland. Orla has wrote a really powerful piece on discovering your gay as a young adult and what it was like to Come Out in 1990s Ireland...

Andrea reflects on the tragedy in Creeslough, in her home county of Donegal. She talks to locals in the area including Garda Brendan O’Connor who was on the scene.

A court in the Netherlands has ruled an employer violated the human rights of a staff member by demanding he had his webcam on for 9 hours a day. Do you feel obliged to have your webcam on? Has your employer ever asked you to put it on?

What do you think about the idea of a school where kids get to pick what they learn? Where there’s no rules, no homework and no one in charge. There's a few of these types of schools in Ireland - some in Kildare, Sligo, Cork, Kilkenny and all around the country. Andrea was joined by Ciara Brehony, Staff Member at Wicklow Democratic School, Gayle Nagle, Staff member at Sligo Sudbury School and parents Dorothée and Mia to chat about alternative schools...

Today is Grandparents Day and we’re celebrating the special relationship between grandchildren and grandparents. What traits, traditions or hobbies did they pass on to you? Broadcaster Mary Kennedy, Tadgh and Ettie of Gogglebox Ireland fame and journalist, Mairead Lavery all joined Andrea to chat about the importance of Grandparents...

An Coimisiún Le Rincí Gaelacha has appointed a former Court of Appeal judge to get to the bottom of allegations of mass competition fixing between Irish dancing teachers and judges. Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by Sarah, an Irish dancing teacher and Susan, who has two daughters that compete in Irish dancing to discuss

IBEC says employers should be able to ask for 'proof' to stop the 'potential abuse' of paid leave, for victims of domestic violence. The business lobby group has objected to plans to introduce a specific 5 days of paid leave for those suffering or at risk of abuse in the home. Andrea was joined by Norah Casey, businesswoman, Sarah Benson, CEO of Women's Aid and Mary Connaughton, Director CIPD Ireland, to discuss...

Would you get up at 5am to cram more in to your day? TikTok’s 5am-9am club is a new trend where people get up extra early to cram more activities into the day before starting work. Andrea was joined by journalist, Kirsty Blake Knox, Colin Baker from Back from the Future, fitness expert Gillian Hynes and other listeners to discuss..

Ireland has been ranked the friendliest country in Europe according to readers of Condé Nast Traveller. The travel magazine said: “Countless global reports have continually dubbed the people of Ireland as some of the friendliest and most welcoming to visitors in the world." Andrea was joined by listeners on Lunchtime Live to hear about what they think about Ireland being voted the friendliest country in Europe...

Have you ever imagined living your life in a different way? So many of us are used to living in a house, maybe with a partner or a family, commuting to work, the daily grind. But, is there another way? Max Zaska, is a musician who recently moved to the Offaly countryside with his family...

The new Sale of Alcohol Bill which could see pubs open until 6am has been delayed, Government officials have confirmed. The bill, aimed at transforming Irish nightlife and developing a new 'night-time economy’, was to be introduced in the next few months but now it will be delayed until after Christmas. Andrea was joined by Robbie Kitt, DJ and Spokesperson for Give us the Night Campaign, Kim, a trader in Dublin City Centre and other listeners to discuss...

Brendan Tierney, a driving instructor in Sligo got in touch with Lunchtime Live to voice his concerns about the attitudes towards learner drivers on the road. Brendan, Libby a learner driver and listeners Dave and Patrick all joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live to discuss...

Have we got enough green areas in our towns and cities? A new café is currently being built in a Dublin Park, but locals feel they’re being ignored in their objections to it. Laura, a listener in Dublin joined Andrea to voice her concerns. Averil, in Ashbourne and Rebecca in Waterford also joined Lunchtime Live to discuss the lack of green spaces in our towns and cities...

Liadán Hynes, Author of ‘Courting: Tractor dates, Macra babies and Swiping Right in Rural Ireland’ joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live to discuss the challenges facing those in rural Ireland when trying to date...

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...