Lunchtime Live

Couples getting publicly funded IVF will only be entitled to one round. They also won’t be eligible for it, if they’ve paid for more than one round themselves privately. There is also expected to be a maximum age limit of 41 and Body Mass Index requirements. These criteria were recommended by a working group of clinical experts. There’s also been no mention of an allowance for single people, or th...

Greece carries out its biggest ever evacuation as wildfires rage on Rhodes. Thousands of people have been moved from villages and resorts on the island. Andrea spoke to Rosaline, Lee and Bridget who were on the island...

The new Barbie film is out. The movie hit the big screen across Ireland today. Andrea was joined now by Dancer Adam Fogarty who is in the movie and Barbie Superfan Glenda to chat all things Barbie...

An almost constant cycle of car advertising on radio, TV and in podcasts flies in the face of the action that is needed to combat the climate crisis. That is according to Green Party TD and chair of the Oireachtas climate committee Brian Leddin who says that advertising in the car industry should be considered alongside alcohol and tobacco in terms of public health and child protection. Andrea was...

Taylor Swift fans all over Ireland spent hours online yesterday attempting to get tickets to one of her shows next summer. However, for many by the time they got to the top of the Ticketmaster queue, all that was left was VIP packages ranging from €371.28 to €743.62. Were you one of the lucky ones? Or are you frustrated with the price of concert tickets? Andrea was joined by listeners and fans to...

Do you feel safe on the streets of our cities? Another vicious assault in Dublin on Wednesday night, this time on an American tourist outside his hotel on Talbot Street in Dublin. While yesterday, a man in his 30s was assaulted in Galway City. What needs to be done to deal with this anti-social behaviour? Andrea was joined by Richard Guiney, CEO of Dublin Town and listeners to discuss...

Have the country got behind the Girls in Green enough? Anecdotally, there is hardly any flags or bunting to be seen. Would people even know the Irish women's team were in Australia at the World Cup. Andrea was joined by Paul and Linda to discuss...

The new broadcasting authority, Comisiún Na Meán plans to further restrict the online advertising of baby formula. The World Health Organisation believes that more restrictions on advertising of formula milk is required. This is just one of the measures proposed by the Breastfeeding Parliamentary Committee to support infant feeding choices Andrea was joined by Dr Liz O’Sullivan, lecturer in nutrit...

From the Cliffs of Moher to surfing in Lahinch and trad sessions in Doolin – there’s something for everyone in Clare, but how important is the tourist industry to the Banner County? Andrea was joined by John Burke, Owner of Armada Hotel, Deirdre O’Shea, Head of Tourism, Clare County Council, Jarlath O Dwyer, CEO of Burren Eco Tourism Network and Nuala Mulqueeny, Manager of Aillwee Burren Experienc...

Lunchtime Live is LIVE from Co Clare as part of Newstalk's Summer Tour. As part of the trip to the west, Andrea took the opportunity to visit Bunratty Castle, hear about some of the history and even enjoy a medieval banquet...

There is a fascinating amount of new businesses and industry in Clare. Andrea was joined LIVE in Shannon by Shannon Airport Director, Niall Kearns, Steve Linnane from Element Six, a world leader in synthetic diamonds and Wassim Derguech, Co-founder of the Future Mobility Campus...

Music, surfing and matchmaking, all things that make Clare particularly special – but what else makes the county stand out? Andrea was joined by Aoibhinn Garrihy, entreprenuer and social media influencer, Marcus Horan, Former Munster player and Jamesie O’Connor, former Clare Hurler to discuss...

With just two days to go until Ireland kick off their World Cup campaign Down Under, Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by some of the women that got the ball rolling 50 years ago. Nono McHugh, Paula Gorham and Catherine Rafferty all joined Andrea to discuss their time playing for their country...

This week is Fertility Awareness Week. The World Health Organisation estimates that approximately 1 in 6 worldwide – experience infertility. But is there a stigma around talking about it? Andrea was joined by Sorcha, Nicola and Graham Coull, Scientific Director for Sims IVF to discuss…

New steel poles have been erected along Wickham Street in Limerick – with seemingly the only purpose being to hang flower baskets. It was an issue highlighted by Limerick Councillor Elisa O’Donovan, and it caused a big reaction online – with many people saying that the steel poles amount to street clutter. Do we have an issue with street clutter in our towns and cities in Ireland? Andrea was joine...

Europe is expected to hit even higher record tempterature today and the rest of this week. Parts of Spain went over 44 degrees yesterday, and some tourist spots in Greece have been evacuated because of wild fires. While Ireland has been experiencing extreme rain and stormy conditions. Health authorities have sounded alarms from North America to Europe and Asia, urging people to stay hydrated and s...

Last week Helen McEntee proposed that a person who provides a character reference for someone convicted of a sexual offence can be cross examined in court. This is part of the amendments to the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2023. Andrea was joined by Noeline Blackwell, CEO of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, Mary Crilly, founder of the Sexual Violence Centre Cork and Safe...

The 2023 Women's World Cup kicks off in Australia and New Zealand in just three days' time. Around 4,000 fans from Ireland are travelling to the tournament to support the Girls in Green. In the run up to the first match, against the host country this Thursday, Andrea was joined by some of the people who have helped train and grow the key members of the Irish Women’s World Cup Team. Andrea was join...

Youghal Greyhound Track is attracting an average attendance of just three members of the public at its twice-weekly meets. Is the interest in Greyhound racing dwindling? Should they still be receiving the same level of funding? Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by Nuala Donlon from Greyhound Action Ireland, David, Tony, Michael and more listeners to discuss...

What is the experience of being black and Irish? And how does it differ from the white experience? A Town Hall organised by Black & Irish tomorrow aims to hear from people about their lived experience, and talk about the changes needed in Ireland to better the black experience. Andrea was joined by Briana Fitzsimons, Managing Director of Black & Irish, Leon Diop, Founder of the Black & Irish and L...

Our summer memories series returns where we chat with some well-known faces and reminisce over those long summer days!  98fm Presenter Brian Dowling joined Andrea in studio...

The latest report from the Environmental Protection Agency has revealed that transport emissions have risen by 6% in one year. What can we do to stop our high emissions? Andrea was joined by Brian Cooke, Director General at SIMI - Society of the Irish Motor Industry, John Gibbons, Environmental Journalist and listeners to discuss…

On Monday Andrea spoke to Sandra Byrnes, foster-mum of Wassiou who died earlier this summer. And yesterday Andrea spoke to Magda, whose son was attacked in Bushy Park last week. In both cases, the incidents surrounding their sons were filmed and shared on social media - much to the heartbreak of the families. What are the laws around this? Is enough being done to help families stop these kinds of...

Many women these days are opting to have children alone. There is an array of reasons why a woman might choose assisted reproduction. Andrea was joined by Lisa, Kerrie and Lucy Boyd, Nurse Manager in the Sims IVF Clonskeagh Clinic to discuss...

Greta Gerwig’s new Barbie movie hits our screens next week, with many lifelong fans already booking out cinemas nationwide. Journalist Mary Kenny has been writing in the Irish Independent that ‘Barbie, once loathed for stereotyping young girls, is now pitched as a feminist icon’ What do you think? Is Barbie an icon or does she actually go against what feminism is meant to be about? Andrea was join...