Lunchtime Live

Is free contraception for 16 year olds a good idea? Health Minister Stephen Donnelly is looking to expand free contraception to 16-year-olds as part of Budget 2025. Would you like to see this happen? To discuss, Andrea is joined by listeners and Clinical Psychotherapist Stephanie Regan.

Welcome to The Pod Squad! We review podcasts every Tuesday so you always have something new to listen to. This week, Andrea was joined by Stylist and Journalist Laura Mullet and Entertainment and Culture journalist Rory Cashin to review ‘Hysterical’! Image: Wondery

3,600 people became Irish citizens during citizenship ceremonies in Dublin yesterday, including Irish rugby superstar Bundee Aki! Two of those new citizens, Edvaldo Castro and Daniele Fortunato, join Andrea to discuss their experience, and share what it means to become an Irish citizen. Image: @rugbyplayersireland on Instagram

Leading universities have been urged to take no more than 10% of students from private schools. Aaron Reeves and Sam Friedman, Professors of Sociology at the London School of Economics say that strictly limiting the numbers of private school pupils attending leading universities is a “radical” move needed to boost social mobility and improve access to elite professions. What do you think? Andrea i...

Yesterday on the show Andrea spoke with Stephen Morrison, whose son Harvey was suddenly removed from the scoliosis surgery list without explanation. Today, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly comments on the case, and Andrea discusses further with Harvey’s mum, Gillian Sherratt.

A man was seen walking from a Dublin apartment building with a five-year-old child “in his grasp” under his arm in an attempted abduction, it is alleged. The man (25) is accused of trying to unlawfully take a minor after “interacting” with the child and a 10-year-old. The media have been banned from naming the accused at the request of gardaí because of the “current climate in the country" and the...

This year on Lunchtime Live we’ve been looking at things that we can do in order to make ourselves that bit happier and healthier. This week, Andrea is joined by Dermot O’Callaghan from Sing Ireland to learn all about social choirs! Image: Sing Ireland

A new unmarked Garda lorry is being launched today in a bid to catch bad behaviour on the roads. Gardai have started using an unmarked Scania truck as part of ‘Operation Iompar’, which will allow the Gardai to utilise the elevated height of the vehicle to see down into cars in order to catch motorists using mobile phones or not wearing seatbelts. Is this the system we need, or would you rather a d...

Dr Niall Breen from the Portmarnock GP Clinic joined Andrea Gilligan to tackle your medical queries.

You may have already seen the displays in shops - yes, places are already getting ready for Christmas. And with it only being 100 days away, are you prepping too? Andrea is joined by Damian O’Reilly, Lecturer in retail management at Technological University Dublin and listener John to discuss.

A recent post on Reddit sparked a conversation around the role fathers are allowed to take in their children’s lives. It came after a dad tried to apply for children’s benefit, but was told that he couldn’t. Aaron joins Andrea to tell more about what he posted. Listeners also join (including Aileen Hickie, CEO of Parentline) to share their thoughts and experiences.

Dublin Airport was hit by a power outage on Sunday morning. The outage caused traffic chaos at the airport and delays at check-in and at US pre-clearance in Terminal 2. Were you caught up in the disruption at the airport yesterday? And, are we too reliant on Dublin Airport at the expense of our regional airports? Andrea is joined by Eddie Punch from Independent Ireland and more to discuss.

Lunchtime Live’s Big Batch is back! Every Monday, we’ll be learning new easy to cook batch recipes from Chef and Director of Conbini Condiments, Holly Dalton, to keep you eating well. No more staring into an open fridge looking for inspiration! For the first week back, Andrea and Holly looked at the perfect things to include in lunchboxes for your kids! Follow the hashtag #LLBigBatch for all our r...

Eight year old Harvey suffers from scoliosis, and is in desperate need of surgery. However, his parents say that he was removed from Children’s Health Ireland’s urgent scoliosis surgery waiting list without them being informed.  Harvey’s dad, Stephen, as well as Sinn Féin’s Health Spokesperson David Cullinane join Andrea Gilligan to discuss.

Every Friday, as part of our ‘Ask Me Anything’ series, we put your questions to people from interesting backgrounds or working in different careers.     This week, Andrea Gilligan was joined by Biohazard Crime Scene and Trauma Cleaner Alana Gillen to answer your questions.

North Dublin residents are joining an international protest this afternoon about night flights from Dublin Airport. Today is International Day for the Ban of Night Flights, and protests will be taking place at airports across Europe. Andrea is joined by David Walton, a concerned Dublin citizen and Ian Coatman, a campaigner from Leeds to discuss.

Having twins can prove a much bigger financial hit, it has emerged. New research from charity Twins Trust and Per Capita suggests parents of twins or triplets are paying almost €24,000 more in the first year after their childrens’ birth compared with those who had two babies in succession. Joining Andrea to discuss these costs are listeners with twins.

Are you heading out to eat this weekend? Once the pinnacle of culinary art, the traditional world of white tablecloths and multi-course tasting menus seems to be on a decline in recent years. So, has dining out become less formal? To discuss, Andrea is joined by Darina Allen, Founder of Ballymaloe Cookery School and Ballymaloe Organic Farm School, Dee Laffan, Food Writer and host of the Beár Bia p...

From the cost of a round of drinks to Emmys as Gaeilge – Breakfast Briefing Presenter Shane Beatty has a roundup of the stories from around the country this week.

Hundreds of parents are left ‘in limbo’ as children across the country still haven’t received school bus places. Why is this happening? To discuss, Andrea Gilligan is joined by Leader of Aontú, Peadar Tóibín as well as parents.

Whether you’re trying to pick paint colours or do a hidden TV wall – our home squad are here to help!  Sarah Carroll from Sand and Deliver DIY and Interier Designer Sarah Twigg Doyle of Retwiggd join Andrea to discuss Photo by Wang Ming

The new 2025 Guinness World Record Book is due out and is celebrating the platinum anniversary of the world's biggest-selling annual book.  Andrea chats to some of the Irish record holders including - the longest hug, the largest gathering of Dolly Partons and the greatest distance covered driving on ice We also hear from Craig Glenday, Editor in Chief of the Guinness Book of World Records

From Scooby Doo to Marilyn Monroe – 98fm’s Ciaran O’Connor has loads to chat about on this week’s throwback Thursday. 

Andrea hears from listener Bob who paid over €50 for two adults for a 50-minute train ride each way. Are train fares too expensive in Ireland? Image: A train pictured leaving MacBride station in Drogheda. Image: Anze Furlan / Alamy Stock Photo 

Every week- we give you the opportunity to put your questions to the Experts- this week- we're looking at wills. From making them to contesting them, guest presenter Clare McKenna chats to Susan Murphy from MakemyWill.ie