Lunchtime Live

There is a growing concern in Irish schools: the sharp rise in student absenteeism. Thousands of children are missing weeks of school, and officials are calling it a ‘hugely alarming’ trend. What’s causing this, and more importantly, how do we fix it? Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

The Leaving Certificate exams will begin on Wednesday, June 4th. So, with just over two weeks to go, how can students optimize their study time to get the best results? Andrea is joined by Ronan Griffin from Study Skills to discuss.

Welcome to The Pod Squad! We review podcasts every week so you always have something new to listen to. Host of the ‘No More Encore’ Podcast Dave Hanratty & Stylist and Journalist Laura Mullet join Andrea to review ‘Lucky Boy’! Image: Tortoise Media

Rent across the country is now averaging at €2,056. A new report out today says that the lack of supply is the driving factor of these rates. There were just more than 2,300 homes available to rent nationally at the start of this month… Joining Andrea to discuss this is Chief Economist with Davy Stockbrokers, Kevin Timoney, Journalist Katie Gallager, Director of Property District Carol Tallon and...

For this week’s Ask Me Anything, Aisling Goodwin, Accent & Dialect Coach, joins Andrea to answer any of your questions when it comes to taking on a new accent.

We’re looking for your help in locating a 20ft container that has been stolen in Laois. The container was filled with Lego sets and educational books that had been generously donated for underprivileged children in Malawi. Evin Joyce, Volunteer at ulemu.com Irish Aid Rapid Response Corps joins Andrea to discuss.

It seems everywhere you turn these days you are hearing about ‘Let Them’ theory.  It has been described as a mindset trick which can free you from the exhausting cycle of trying to manage everything and everyone around you. But, what exactly is it? And, does it work? Calodagh McCumiskey, Corporate Wellbeing Specialist and Life Coach, joins Andrea to discuss.

Imagine the scene: you're out for dinner tonight in a fancy restaurant, and this stunning plate of food arrives in front of you. How strong is the compulsion to take a photo? Does the phone eat first? Or would the thought never occur to you? Joining Andrea to discuss is Journalist Shamim de Brún, Tom Doorley, Food and Wine Writer with The Irish Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday and Chef Andrew Rudd, D...

A Dublin man who suffered a traumatic spinal injury said his independence as an individual has been taken from him, as he has been told he is not eligible for disability allowance… Eoghan Gorman joins Andrea to discuss.

From Galway being the best to Carlow being Pope-obsessed, Breakfast Briefing Presenter Shane Beatty joins Andrea with plenty of stories from around the country this week!

There has been a big increase in car loans in Ireland. Close to €850 million was drawn down last year to fund the purchase of 66,200 vehicles. This is a rise of 14% on the previous year... Have we, in Ireland, become obsessed with fancy cars? Joining Andrea to discuss is Shane O’Donoghue, Editor with Completecar.ie , Nadia Adan, Owner of Ashford Motors in Wicklow, as well as listeners.

Is it a good idea to seek out fertility testing early, and how effective is it for those who want children later in life? Newstalk Reporter Bella Finn did the hard work for the show, with an AMH test from Sims IVF Clinic, and joins Andrea to discuss the process.

With the sun shining this bright - you’re probably in the mood to get your BBQ set up… The Home Squad are here to talk about all things cooking outdoors! Joining Andrea to discuss is Jenny Sheehan former ‘Home of the Year’ winners who is on Instagram as @workerscottage and Kate O’Driscoll, who you might know on Instagram as @victorianrathmines.

Today we're talking about one of the most talked-about family dramas in the celebrity world: the rumored feud between Victoria and David Beckham and their daughter-in-law, Nicola Peltz. From wedding tensions to social media shade, what’s really going on behind the scenes? Joining Andrea to discuss is Founder of Society PR, Avila Lipsett and Alexandra Ryan from Goss.ie .

Residents of a housing estate in north County Dublin have voiced serious concerns over unfinished infrastructure, specifically the absence of speed bumps that were promised in the original planning permission. Four years after moving in, locals say the lack of traffic-calming measures poses a danger to their children’s safety and are calling for urgent action… Andrea is joined by local residents t...

We’ve decided to do a deep dive on some of our favourite albums to explore the stories behind them. What did the band really think of each other? Where did the inspirations from the songs come from? Joining Andrea to discuss is Head Tour Guide at the Irish Rock ‘N’ Roll Museum Experience, Alan Buckley, who’s going to talk us through the Fleetwood Mac album Rumours…

RTÉ’s Eurovision Head of Delegation Michael Kealy has said it “feels wrong” when others suggest the broadcaster boycott the Eurovision Song Contest. There has been controversy over Israel’s participation in the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, with many calls for RTÉ to pull out of the event. That obviously hasn’t happened and Ireland is competing tonight, along with Israel. Are you disappointed that...

Some Dublin taxi drivers are operating a loophole to take fares in Drogheda, and local taxi drivers are not happy… Andrea is joined by taxi drivers to discuss what is going on.

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. 98FM’s Cathal O’Sullivan joined Andrea in the studio to put a smile on your faces…

Despite efforts to reduce childcare costs, many Irish families continue to face significant financial burdens. Recent reports highlight that families paying up to €1,138 monthly for childcare receive a subsidy of €414, leaving them with a €724 out-of-pocket expense. To achieve the Government’s target of €200 monthly childcare costs, an additional €524 per child per month would be required. So, is...

Every Wednesday afternoon, we’ll be talking Making Babies. Andrea will be joined by Professor Shane Higgins, Master of the National Maternity Hospital to cover every area of trying to have a baby. From the very start of knowing how to prepare, right up to pregnancy – and all the bumps in the road in between. This week, Shane joins Andrea to discuss the 9 to 12 of pregnancy, the end of the first tr...

Big Brother is back, and this year, they want you! Big Brother bosses are keen for Irish contestants to apply. If you’ve got a big personality and aren’t afraid to be watched 24/7, this could be your moment. Andrea is joined by Ray Shah, former Big Brother Contestant, to discuss the application process, and what it’s really like inside the house.

Businessman Denis O’Brien has blasted working from home as “...a load of nonsense”. He claimed Ireland’s reputation as a place to do business is at risk, and working from home is now a threat to the economy, because it has caused a loss of competitiveness, energy, creativity and ideas. What do you think? Should we all be returning to the office? Joining Andrea to discuss is Neil McDonnell, CEO of...

An investigation has found that many children in Ireland may have undergone unnecessary hip surgeries at Children's Health Ireland… The probe could stretch back 15 years, raising serious questions about oversight, ethics, and patient safety. Joining Andrea to discuss this is Leader of Aontú, Peadar Tóibín and some of those affected.

For this week’s Ask the Expert, Andrea is joined by Dr. Justin Roche, Consultant Paediatrician at The National Tongue Tie Centre, to explain what tongue tie is, how it affects babies, and what can be done about it.