Lunchtime Live

Donald Trump will be sworn in as US President at around 5pm Irish time today. Objectively, it is certainly a comeback for a man who has survived two impeachment trials, and two assassination attempts. So, what will his impact be in Ireland? Andrea is joined by Journalist Barbara McCarthy, Paddy Cullivan, Historical Entertainer and American citizen living in Galway and more to discuss. Image: Reute...

Ireland’s billionaires added an additional €13bn to their wealth last year, the equivalent to €35.6m each day, according to a new report from Oxfam Ireland. The charity called for greater taxation on extreme wealth… So, should we tax the rich more heavily? Andrea is joined by Registered Tax Consultant Jean Cashman as well as listeners to discuss.

This is Lunchtime Live’s Big Batch. Every Monday we’ll be learning new easy to cook batch recipes to keep you eating well. No more staring into an open fridge looking for inspiration! This week, Andrea is joined by Siobhan Berry, from @mummycooks on Instagram, to look at some easy and delicious meal prep ideas! Follow the hashtag #LLBigBatch for all our recipes.

It was reported today that schools have been issuing warnings over ‘snus’ being used among students… So, why have nicotine pouches become so popular again? Andrea is joined by Mark Dunne, SETU Students’ Union President, Eric Nelligan, Aontú Education Spokesperson and Secondary School Teacher, Tom Gleeson from the New Nicotine Alliance Ireland Keith Redmond owner of Redmond Dental Care on the Sutto...

For this week’s Ask Me Anything, Trevor Twamley, CEO & Co-Founder of Sport Endorse, joins Andrea to answer any of your questions about being a sports agent!

Ciara Mangan, who helped convict her rapist Shane Noonan in 2023, has launched a new survivor-led charity to support others facing similar struggles. After her own difficult journey seeking justice, Ciara has set up the charity to address the "lonely struggle" many survivors endure, offering help and resources through a new website. Ciara joins Andrea to discuss.

Have businesses become too dog friendly?  Earlier today on Newstalk, Irish Independent Journalist Rosalyn Dee told Ciara Kelly about she takes her dog to churches… Is that a step too far? Where should the line be drawn? Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

Traitors has taken over our TVs and an Irish series has been commissioned for RTÉ. So, why are we so invested in deception, and how do we know if someone is lying to us? To discuss, Andrea is joined by Psychiatrist, Brendan Kelly. Image: RTÉ

From car park charges to cúpla focal, Breakfast Briefing Presenter Shane Beatty joins Andrea with plenty of stories from around the country this week!

Gardaí caught 266 drivers on their phones yesterday as part of a national day of action targeting mobile use behind the wheel. 762 motorists have been caught by gardaí using their phones while driving already this year, which marks a fourfold increase on the daily average last year. So, why are we still not getting the message when it comes to phone use behind the wheel? Andrea is joined by listen...

When you’re looking to do a bit of work on your kitchen, should you make a kitchen island part of that plan? This week, the Home Squad are looking into it! Andrea is joined by Arlene McIntrye, Creative Director of Ventura Design and Sarah Carroll from Sand and Deliver DIY to discuss.

A plea for support from a mother raised more than €400k in just a few days on GoFundMe, but a lot more is needed to help 7 year old Archie… Una Ennis, Archie’s mum, joins Andrea to discuss why she put out a plea for help. Image: @una_ennis_xo on Instagram

We are approaching the one-year anniversary of the deposit return scheme. So far, 900 million plastic bottles and cans have been brought back to machines and shops, but Larissa Nolan, Features Editor and Columnist with the Irish Mirror, told Newstalk earlier today that she thinks the scheme is a nuisance... What do you think? Are you in favour of the Deposit Return Scheme? Andrea is joined by list...

There has been positive news from Gaza yesterday, with an announcement of a prospective ceasefire… But, how optimistic are the people of Palestine that it will last? Andrea is joined by people from the area to discuss.

For this week’s Throwback Thursday, Rebecca Shekleton, Presenter on 98fm’s Big Breakfast joins Andrea to look back on the year 1977!

The Programme for Government was released yesterday, a 162-page document covering the coalition’s plans for the next 4 years... One of the education promises includes improving the student teacher ratio to 19:1, but how bad is it currently? Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

For this week’s Ask the Expert, Andrea is joined by Skincare Expert, Eavanna Breen, to learn about how the cold season can affect your skin, and the best ways you can look after it.

A scammer duped a French woman into paying out hundreds of thousands of pounds after convincing her that she was in a relationship with Brad Pitt. The scammer used AI to make images of Brad Pitt, sick in hospital, to scam her out of €830,000. She thought she was helping with cancer treatment for him. Andrea is joined by Becky Holmes, author of ‘Keanu Reeves Is Not In Love With You’, to discuss the...

From February 3rd, the price of a Guiness will go up another 6 cents, along with other pints produced by company Diageo. What impact does this have on the hospitality industry? Andrea is joined by publicans and listeners to discuss.

Andrea’s guest is a prolific sperm donor, who says he will soon have 100 children across the globe… Kyle Gordy joins the show to discuss.

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

Senior representatives of the Jewish community in Ireland have objected to President Michael D Higgins giving the keynote speech at the Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration in Dublin later this month. What do you think? Is it right for our President to speak at the Holocaust memorial day in Dublin? To discuss, Andrea is joined by Richard Boyd Barrett, People Before Profit TD for Dun Laoghaire, Dan...

Welcome to The Pod Squad! We review podcasts every Tuesday so you always have something new to listen to. This week, Entertainment and Culture Journalist Rory Cashin and Laura Donnelly from Newstalk’s Newsroom join Andrea to review ‘Shell Game’! Image: Evan Ratliff

A Derry nun has begun the path to sainthood with a special ceremony in Madrid. Sister Clare Crockett from Derry died in an earthquake in South America on the 16th of April 2016. Andrea is joined by Clare's sister, Shauna Gill, to discuss.

A study has found that a shocking number of female sports stars don’t see themselves as role models. According to new research from Lidl Ireland and the Ladies Gaelic Football Association 43% of LGFA inter-county players said they do not currently consider themselves as role models. So, why do female sports stars have such a difficult time in seeing themselves as sports stars? To discuss, Andrea i...