Lunchtime Live

Have you or someone you know been affected by long ambulance wait times? HSE figures show average ambulance response times deteriorated to 21 minutes and 43 seconds in 2023. What needs to be done to improve ambulance services, support frontline paramedics and prevent avoidable deaths? Joining guest host Clare McKenna to discuss is Vice Chairman with Blessington AFC, Alan Moore, Owner of Lifeline A...

Model, Author and Advocate Monica Walsh has used the tragic death of her aunt in the 90s, at the hand of her husband, to try and lift the silence surrounding domestic abuse… Monica joins Andrea 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. Ciara Treacy from the Newstalk Digital Team joined Andrea in the studio to put a smile on your faces!

The mandatory retirement age for inter-county GAA referees is 50 years old. Once an official on the National Referees Panel reaches this age, they must step down from officiating at the inter-county level, though many continue to referee local club games. But, should we extend the referee retirement age? Joining Andrea to discuss is Rory Hickey, former Intercounty GAA Referee and Referee Administr...

For this week’s Making Babies, Andrea is joined by International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant, Maria O’Sullivan, to discuss the best ways to go about breastfeeding and bottle-feeding!

Caoilfhinn Ní Choiligh, alopecia advocate and newly-crowned Rose of Tralee joins Andrea to discuss her win! Image: @roseoftraleefestival on Instagram

Many people have recently voiced concerns about safety on our roads. The Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) has described reckless driving on motorways as a “huge concern” for hauliers across Ireland. With road deaths continuing to occur on Irish roads, are people becoming increasingly afraid to get behind the wheel? And what more needs to be done to ensure people feel safe when travelling on o...

For this week’s Ask the Expert, Andrea is joined by Ray Cooke from Ray Cooke Auctioneers to answer any of your property questions!

Are you the kind of person that leaves hundreds - if not thousands - of emails unread? How do you clear the inbox and stay on top of things? Joining Andrea to discuss is Stylist Laura Mullet and Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin, Brendan Kelly.

Have you ever experienced post natal depression? How did you deal with it, and what advice would you give to others? Madge Fogarty, Chairperson of Post Natal Depression Ireland, Aolish Gormley, Maternal Mental Health Advocate and Founder of the Year of Care campaign and more join Andrea to discuss. For immediate postnatal support in Ireland, call Parentline at 01 873 3599 for free, confidential ad...

Does our current food environment make unhealthy choices far too easy? Well, according to Prof Donal O’Shea, HSE Clinical Lead for Obesity: it is. He joins Andrea to discuss.

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!

How big of a problem is dog poo in your local area, and what should be done to both prevent owners from leaving dog fouling and make it easier to dispose of? Joining Andrea to discuss is DIY expert Alan Grant, Broadcaster Fionnuala Moran, Valarie Roe CEO & Founder of Valarie Roe PR and listeners.

It’s time for The Health Reset! Where an expert joins to answer any of your health-related questions. This week, Andrea is joined by Dr Niall Breen from the Portmarnock GP Clinic to answer your medical questions!

Have neighbourhood Whatsapp groups lost the run of themselves? In an article in the Independent UK, writer Oliver Petter wonders how the humble group chat for neighbourly business went from a necessary utility to an emotional dumping ground… What is your experience? Joining Andrea to discuss is Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent, Jess Kelly, as well as Esther O’Moore Donohoe, writer and podcaster...

On the show last week, Andrea spoke to parents of children with autism. They gave their day-to-day experiences of navigating life with their children and the lack of support and resources available to parents who are facing this daily reality. More people have gotten in touch to share their own experiences, and to talk about what they would like to see going forward…

Last week, Andrea spoke to some parents who are struggling to get school bus tickets for their kids. As the academic year approaches, many parents are facing no choice but to drive their kids to school each morning. Today, Andrea speaks with more parents on this issue…

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 Money Matters, Andrea is joined by Paul Merriman of Ask Paul to discuss everything you need to know about mortgage interest rates and their impact!

Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly has condemned what he has described as the "reckless behaviour" of motorists driving on the wrong side of motorways. He added that in some cases this form of dangerous driving is being carried out for "social media likes". What more needs to be done about social media trends around driving? Joining Andrea to discuss is Dr Elizabeth Farries, Director of the UCD Centr...

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 Tony Smyth to find out what the best things to see and do are in County Dublin!

Earlier this week, Andrea spoke to Sophia Murphy. She was the victim of abuse at the hands of her father throughout her childhood and both her parents are serving prison sentences for what she went through… For more on this, Dr. Ian Marder, Associate Professor in Criminology at the School of Law and Criminology in Maynooth University, joins Andrea to explain how the restorative justice process wor...

If you’re saving for a wedding you will know that they are expensive events, but would you expect the parents of a couple to contribute to the big day? And should family members chip in? Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

What a night for Irish Athletics last night with Mark English winning gold and Rhasidat Adeleke taking silver! Joining Andrea to give their reactions is Chris McNulty from Finn Valley Athletics Club and Cecil Johnston, Tallaght Athletics Club PRO.

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

Yesterday on the show Andrea heard from Dervla Burke O'Connor on her son Paul’s autism and how it has impacted both her and her son’s life. Today, more parents join to speak to more parents who are in a similar situation… Are the supports there for parents of children with autism, and what more needs to be done to help?