Lunchtime Live

It’s been announced that car parking charges at the National Children’s hospital will reach up to €10 a day, where they’ll be capped. The charges have been a contentious topic for years, with parents saying it’s a huge fee to add to their hardship. So, it €10 reasonable? Or is it an unfair ask of parents? What will it mean for people travelling from around the country, who typically won’t be able...

Ireland has gone dog mad in recent years, with ever more restaurants, pubs and even offices catering to furry plus ones. And Irish entrepreneurs who've sniffed out the area are also seeing paws-itive results. Newstalk's Sarah Madden reports... With thanks to Square - helping businesses run and grow. See square.com for more...

“I don’t know which doors to knock on”, that is the view of Filip. Filip and his wife and their daughter have been forced to sleep in their car after losing their home after running out of money to pay their rent following a double cancer battle.

Do Irish Stereotypes bother you? Saturday Night Live came under fire after their Oscars skit which showed impressions of Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson and included jokes about the Irish accent and alcoholism. It has annoyed many people – but does it bother you? Andrea was joined by listeners to discuss… Image: Saturday Night Live

Jill, a listener, got in touch with Lunchtime Live about her son's experience at his first confession as part of his preparation for his First Holy Communion. Jill says she was horrified by some of the language used in the ceremony of Examination Of Conscience. Jill, Tom, Ger, and Fr Paddy Byrne, parish priest of Abbeyleix, Ballinakill and Raheen in Co Laois all joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live to...

A new Garda station is to open on Dublin’s O’Connell Street today. Will this curb antisocial behaviour and possibly improve the atmosphere in the area? Andrea was joined by Labour Party Senator Marie Sherlock, Noel Kelly, Manager of McDowells Jewellers on O'Connell Street and Rosemary to discuss...

Head of transport at the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland Declan Meally has said you shouldn’t be too concerned about the lack of charging points for EVs across the country as “most of your charging should be done at home”. How practical is this advice? Is the infrastructure there in Ireland to drive an electric car? Andrea was joined by listeners to discuss…

Over a thousand younger people are being cared for in nursing home because adequate housing and care hasn’t been provided for them elsewhere. There are currently nearly 1,350 people under the age of 65 being cared for in Ireland’s nursing homes, according to Freedom of Information figures released to Newstalk. While some of these residents have a disability, others have conditions that affect thei...

There are two international football games coming up in March, as well as our final home Six Nations tie against England - all these games will take place in the Aviva Stadium. It begs the question, in the future should we look to spread international fixtures around the country? Would there be any benefits to moving them? Andrea was joined by Sinéad O’Keeffe, Commercial Director with Pairc Ui Cha...

Shannen O’Flaherty is 26 and living with Friedeich's Ataxia. It’s a rare inherited disease which causes damage to your nervous system and movement problems. It also means Shannen needs to use a wheelchair. But unfortunately, she’s been given the wrong wheelchair, which means she’s in pain every day. So now she’s fundraising for her own.

In a statement yesterday, President Michael D Higgins said that schools should provide “basic information regarding sexuality in the fullest sense”. It comes amid plans for a new sex education curriculum being formulated, and discussions around the teaching of transgender issues in Irish schools. What do you think? What should or shouldn’t be included in the new sex education course? Andrea was jo...

Life can be more colourful for some – especially if you experience synaesthesia, a neurological condition – where people have a kind of a cross-wiring of the senses. Journalist and Editor Aisling Keenan joined Andrea to tell her about her experience of the condition...

In January, Andrea spoke to Caroline Phelan about her brother Bernard, who was on hunger strike in Iran. He was protesting because he believes he’s being held there as a political pawn and denies all the charges the Iranians have held against him.  Gregory O’Corry-Crowe, Bernard’s first cousin is in Dublin today for a press conference at Buswells Hotel and he joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live…

Should flat faced dogs be banned from crufts? The RSPCA are calling for an end to breeds like Pugs, French Bulldogs and British bulldogs competing at the annual dog show – they fear that it’s making the breeds more popular, and with so many of these suffering from breathing issues – they say it’s a serious concern. Andrea was joined by Gerry Boland, Animal Rights Campaigner, Founder and Spokespers...

To celebrate International Women’s Day, Andrea was joined by some women who work in male-dominated jobs and how they have overcome the struggles faced in such industries. Caitríona Bergin, head of Women in Construction and Quarrying Ireland, Dearbhla Keane, founder of SheConstructs and member of women’s construction and quarrying Ireland and Hannah Kelly, general manager of production on an oyster...

A proposal has been put forward to completely redesign Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre. Dublin City Council have put forward some objections, saying they have serious concerns. But most of the outcry seems to have come from the public, with people saying we’re ruining the character of the building, and ruining the personalities of our cities. Are we in danger of riping everything with character do...

It’s been revealed today that the state paid over €100 million last year on the salaries of teachers in private schools. According to figures released to Newstalk, the bill for two schools in Dublin was over €4 million. The total cost for the 2021-2022 school year was €104.3 million. Should the state be paying the salaries of teachers in fee paying schools? Andrea was joined by listeners to discus...

Tracey, a listener, got in touch with Lunchtime Live about an incident in which she left her car parked in a taxi rank because she thought she was in labour. She was subsequently fined and appealed her ticket. She joined Andrea to discuss the attitudes towards pregnant women in Ireland...

Should we introduce free public transport in Ireland? AA Ireland are calling upon the Government to introduce free public transport, however Green Party leader Eamon Ryan says that it would 'increase level of unnecessary trips'. Andrea was joined by Green Party Councillor Janet Horner, Feljin Jose, Chairperson of the Dublin Commuter Coalition and other listeners to discuss…

An auction is taking place this weekend in Bray which will see Nazi themed memorabilia such as a statue of Hitler being sold off. Oliver Sears, son of a holocaust survivor and founder of Holocaust Awareness Ireland joined Andrea to discuss…

A judge in Cork District Court says people “acting the maggot” with hospital staff should go to prison. According to the Irish Nursing and Midwives Organisation there were 5,593 reported assaults against nursing and midwifery staff between January 2021 and October 2022. Andrea was joined by Dr Mick Molloy, consultant in emergency medicine in Wexford and member of the IMO consultant committee, Orla...

Government party leaders are set to meet today to discuss the possible extension of the eviction ban. Landlords are now saying they may leave the market if it stays, because it’s not worth it for them anymore to keep renting out their properties. Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by landlords Richard, Michelle, William, Mark and Hugh to discuss…

Residents concerned about gorse fires around the Cork and Kerry area spoke to Andrea on the show today.

39-year-old Christopher Stokes has been jailed for 11 and half years for a horrific attack on a vulnerable woman involving acid, boiling water and an attempt to burn down the house she was in. Survivor, Simone Lee spoke to Andrea about the terrifying ordeal.

Megan Cullen suffers from Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome caused by nerve damage. In 2019, she cut off her own finger to try and ease the pain. Her mother has now set up a gofund me page to help her daughter get the treatment she needs to manage the pain. Catherine, Megan's mother spoke to Andrea on the show