Newstalk

Lunchtime Live

Society EN ↓ 5430 episodes

Andrea Gilligan invites callers to have their say on the topics of the day - get in touch by emailing  lunchtimelive@newstalk.com Listen and subscribe to Lunchtime Live on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App. CONVERSATION THAT COUNTS | Ireland’s national independent talk station for news, sport, analysis and entertainment Listen to Newstalk at  http://newstalk.com/listenlive  | Download the GoLoud app now, the new home for Newstalk

Be sure to visit the podcast's website and support the creator: pscrb.fm

Author

Newstalk

Category

Society

Podcast website

pscrb.fm

Latest episode

Oct 20, 2026

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Episodes

Do we need more public toilets? 08.07.2026

As the weather gets nicer and more people are at the beach, the park or generally out-and-about: the age-old question of public toilets gets brought back up. With everyone out of the house, are there really enough public toilets? Tomorrow marks Ireland's first No Wait Card Awareness Day, a day to raise awareness for bladder and bowel control conditions such as Crohn's and Colitis. Joining Andrea t...

Ask the Expert: Dublin Airport 07.07.2026

For this week’s Ask the Expert, Andrea is joined by Graeme McQueen, Media Relations Manager with the DAA, to answer any of your questions about navigating Dublin Airport!

Why are we obsessed with ‘drying weather’? 07.07.2026

Is there anything more Irish than talking about how good this weather is for drying? There is great drying out there, but why are we so obsessed with our washing? Joining Andrea to discuss is Alan O'Reilly from Carlow Weather, ‘Cleanfluencer’ Brandon Stone and Comedian Claire Roche.

Council house transfer issues - Linda’s story 07.07.2026

Following on from yesterday’s conversation with Jasmine about the state her home is in where she is trying to raise her children, Linda joins Andrea to share her own story of how she wants to transfer social housing in Meath, but has been refused…

Féile O’Sullivan - one year on from her accident 07.07.2026

This time last year, Féile O’Sullivan tragically lost both her legs in a devastating farm accident. Now one year on, she is upbeat and all set to return to school. Her mother Maureen joins Andrea to discuss her progress.

Don’t Miss: Katie Price, New Heights, Legally Blonde 07.07.2026

Katie Gallagher, Spin News Anchor, has her finger on the pulse for what’s happening and she joins Andrea with the things you don’t want to miss this week! Image: Sky

Do mandatory school devices put a burden on families? 07.07.2026

The ERSI has said that mandatory school devices put a ‘burden’ on families. Students' access to digital learning and technologies is increasingly dependent on their family's ability to pay. Without strategic intervention, we run the risk of deepening inequality between schools' students. Do mandatory screens put a burden on families? Or do they create inequality between students? Joining Andrea to...

Ask the Medic with Dr Nina Byrnes 06.07.2026

It’s time for Ask the Medic! Where an expert joins to answer any of your health-related questions. This week, Andrea is joined by Dr Nina Byrnes, GP at Generation Health Medical Clinic, to answer your medical questions!

Are your 40s the best decade? 06.07.2026

Does life get better as you age, and what’s been your favourite decade? Tanya Sweeney, writing in the Irish Independent today, agrees that her 40s have been the best decade of her life... She joins Andrea, as well as Brendan Kelly, Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin, to discuss.

How much antisocial behaviour have you seen on public transport? 06.07.2026

Bus drivers are being forced to leave their jobs due to escalating violence which sees them routinely being spat at and verbally and physically assaulted. While the latest figures from Bus Éireann show there were 654 incidents of antisocial behaviour on its vehicles in 2025, a 5% increase on the previous year. Have you experienced antisocial behaviour on public transport? Andrea is joined by liste...

Should we change our approach to labour wait times? 06.07.2026

Former Master of the National Maternity Hospital, Professor Peter Boylan, told Newstalk Breakfast that Ireland's new labour guidelines may be putting women at risk. Under the updated HSE guidance, women in the latent phase of labour may not be admitted to a labour ward until they are around 4cm dilated, with some advised to continue labouring at home. Critics argue that because many women cannot a...

Finance Matters: Pensions 06.07.2026

Are you determined to finally get on top of your finances once and for all? For many, looking at your bank account is something you dread, but how should we best manage what’s coming in and what’s coming out? For this edition of Finance Matters, Andrea is joined by Paul Merriman of Ask Paul to discuss everything you need to know about pensions.

Mother and three children’s home in “unliveable condition” - Jasmine’s story 06.07.2026

Jasmine Mooney and her children live in a house in the Dublin 8 area that she says is in an “unliveable condition”, and she is struggling to get support… She joins Andrea to share her story.

Have You Been To? - The things to see in Cavan 03.07.2026

We continue a county-by-county journey across Ireland, exploring all 32 counties that make up this remarkable island. Have you been to some of these places and hidden gems? Today, Andrea is joined by Travel Content Creator Will Murphy to find out what the best things to see and do are in County Cavan!

What is Turner’s Syndrome? Listener experience 03.07.2026

One listener got in touch with Lunchtime Live to share her experience of Turner’s Syndrome and how it inspired her to write a book... Triona Keane joins Andrea to discuss.

Should watching sports be banned at weddings? 03.07.2026

With the World Cup in full swing and the All-Ireland hurling and football finals capturing everyone's attention, we're firmly in the sports season, but it's also the peak wedding season! For many couples, especially brides and grooms planning every detail of their big day, there's an added challenge: how do you keep guests focused on the celebration when there's a huge match happening at the same...

Should workdays end earlier every Friday this summer? 03.07.2026

Would you like to finish earlier to enjoy your summer evenings? Some Irish offices are leading the way with summer Fridays… Joining Andrea to discuss is Caroline Reidy, Head of NFP HR Solutions, Declan Lynch, Managing Director of Wentworth Chartered Accountancy in Cork and Naoimh Frawley, Director of People Operations and Governance at the Cork Chamber of Commerce.

Regional Roundup with Shane Beatty 03.07.2026

Breakfast Briefing Presenter Shane Beatty joined Andrea with a roundup of some of the stories from across the country this week.

Have you had issues with chatbots in customer service? 03.07.2026

There is a clampdown on chatbots when buying a financial service or product. A new law was signed protecting the right to speak to a human in customer care, and to protect consumers from manipulative marketing tactics. What is your experience with chatbots and customer service? Joining Andrea to discuss is Damian O’Reilly, Lecturer in Retail Management in TU Dublin, Caitríona Redmond, Consumer Col...

The Home Squad: Small Outdoor Spaces 02.07.2026

Do you have a small outdoor space in your home like a garden or balcony that you’d like to jazz up? This week, the Home Squad are here to discuss decorations for small outdoor spaces! Joining Andrea to discuss is Jenny Sheehan, Co-Host of ‘Rip it up: The Renovations Podcast’ (@workerscottage on Instagram) and Jenny Butler, Interior Architect & Director of Jennifer Anne Interior.

Siobhan O’Hagan on her solo IVF and parenting journey 02.07.2026

Joining Andrea to discuss her solo parenting journey, and now her solo IVF journey is Siobhan O’Hagan, an online fitness coach and content creator.

Why are probate wait times different around the country? 02.07.2026

Probate turnaround can take up to 10 times longer, depending on where you are in the country. The average wait time is 11 weeks, with places like Clonmel averaging on 20 weeks. So, why do wait times differ so much, and how can this impact people buying or selling property? Joining Andrea to discuss is John Costello, Consultant Solicitor in Noble Law Solicitors in Dundrum and Ray Cooke, CEO of Ray...

Is Taylor Swift getting married in Madison Square Garden? 02.07.2026

It looks like Taylor Swift is set to tie the knot with American Football player Travis Kelce, after the singer booked out Madison Square Garden in New York. Are you excited, or do you not really care? Joining Andrea to discuss is Dr Ellen Howley, Assistant Professor at the School of English in DCU, Comedian Jess Spencer and more.

The Making of Lewis Capaldi! 02.07.2026

We’ve decided to do a deep dive on some of our favourite albums to explore the stories behind them. What did the artists really think of each other? Where did the inspirations from the songs come from? Joining Andrea to discuss is Alan Buckley from the Irish Rock ‘N’ Roll Museum Experience, who’s going to talk through the life and work of Lewis Capaldi!

Speaking with Pico Lopes’ family ahead of the Argentina match! 02.07.2026

Ireland’s own Pico Lopes will take on one of the world’s greatest footballers of all time tomorrow in the last 32 of the Fifa World Cup. He will play against Messi when Cape Verde take on World Cup winners, Argentina, on Friday night. With the match one of great importance, Aer Lingus has offered to fly Pico Lopez’s family out to the match. Andrea is joined by Pico’s brother Jacques Lopes as the f...

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