Lunchtime Live

Child benefit payments will be extended to include 18-year-olds who are still in full-time education from May 1st.   Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys will bring the proposals to Cabinet this morning.  Do all 18-year-olds need child benefit?  Andrea was joined by Suzanne Rogers, Research and policy analyst with Social Justice Ireland and others to discuss...

Millions of Americans tuned in to watch the Super Bowl on Sunday, but many were more likely to be watching Taylor Swift than the game. Alexandra Ryan, CEO of Goss.ie and Gina London, leadership communications expert and Sunday Independent columnist joined Andrea to discuss...

Aimee Campbell was diagnosed with functional neurological disorder (FND) in 2017. The condition has left her paralysed in 3 limbs.   She’s now 28 and her application for assistance at home was denied by the HSE.  Aimee joined Andrea Gilligan on Lunchtime Live today...

More than 31,000 people were waiting to take their driving test in Dublin at the end of January, according to new figures from the Road Safety Authority. The RSA has previously said “unprecedented” waiting times for tests need to be addressed, but how are drivers coping with this wait?  Andrea was joined by Tara, Lea and Brenda Bolger from the Bolger School of Motoring in Kilkenny...

This is Lunchtime Live’s Big Batch. Every Monday we’ll be learning new easy to cook batch recipes from Cook Book Author and Recipe writer Sarah Butler to keep you eating well. No more staring into an open fridge looking for inspiration! This week Andrea and Sarah looked at recipes for Fluffy Pancakes... Follow the hashtag #LLBigBatch for all our recipes.

A new advertising campaign is hoping to encourage Irish construction workers living abroad to return home to help with the housing crisis.  The Government are hoping it’ll help increase the supply of homes in Ireland.  The plan will aim at cities like London, Sydney and New York to see what incentives they might need to move home to Ireland.  Andrea was joined by Barry in New Zealan...

Every Friday, as part of our ‘Ask Me Anything’ series, we put your questions to people from interesting background or working in different jobs.   Today on the show Andrea was joined by former jockey Jamie Codd on Lunchtime Live...

Despite the countless number of sports in Ireland – interest in American Football seems to be on the rise.   Things are gearing up for the 2024 showdown on Sunday between the Kansas City Chiefs and The San Francisco 49ers.  Andrea was joined by Shane Brady, South Dublin Panthers player, Cian Fahey from Off The Ball and Greg Johnson, Star Player wiht Dublin Rebels Club and Club Commi...

What is life like after a conviction?  How easy is it to leave prison and rejoin society?  I’m joined now by Damien Quinn, founder of the charity Spéire Nua, which helps offenders re-integrate in society after serving time in prison and Joe Garrihy, Assistant Professor in Criminology in Maynooth University, specialising in Prison Life...

Every day we scour the newspapers but often, many great stories from the regional papers don’t make the headlines. Newstalk's Breakfast Briefing presenter Shane Beatty has rounded up some of the best stories that you might have missed... 

Would you be happy for the TV License fee to come out of your tax?  Tánaiste Micheál Martin has said that his preference would be for the fee to be collected through Revenue rather than the current system.   Andrea was joined by listeners to discuss...

Looking for some new floors without spending a fortune?  Architect Roisin Murphy and Hardware Expert Alan Grant joined Andrea with some tricks of the trade to give you a fresh kitchen without the cost...

Anna, a listener, got in touch because of something her daughter is going through. Anna and Lynda Duffy, a therapist specialising in eating disorders and who has also overcome an eating disorder herself, joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live today... 

A man, aged in his 40s, died in a hospital in the Dublin and Midlands health region after contracting measles. He had recently travelled here from England. Andrea was joined by Dr Nina Byrnes to discuss why have they come back, and what should we be doing about it? 

It's time for Throwback Thursday, where we look back on things that happened this week in history.  Ciaran O’Connor from 98fm joined Andrea Gilligan on Lunchtime Live... 

There have been calls for Norma Foley to scrap the exemptions given for learning Irish. The Oireachtas Committee says that the number of exemptions is “harming” the Irish education system.   Is it fair for those with learning difficulties such as dyslexia and anxiety to be forced to study Irish?   Andrea was joined by Aindrias Moynihan, Fianna Fail TD, Barbara Ennis, Principal...

The Ireland’s women basketball team is set to go ahead with their game against Israel tomorrow despite calls for a boycott from a number of the squad members due to the ongoing war with Gaza.   Andrea was joined by Rebecca O’Keeffe, a former player, activist and author, Barry Lennon, Basketball Correspondent for the Irish Independent and more to discuss...

Many people have notions on how they wish to decorate their homes. However, when the time comes, do people push the boundaries on bold designs or do they opt to play it safe instead?  To discuss the regrets people have made when designing their homes and how to ensure you are not one of those people, Andrea was joined by Creative Director of Ventura Design, Arlene McIntyre...

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.   Newstalk’s own Cathal O’Sullivan joined Andrea in studio to put a smile on your faces...

Last September, The Temple Street Children’s hospital came under fire after several children were affected by complications after their spinal surgeries. The long waiting lists have since increased.  During this time Andrea spoke to Stephen Morrison, whose son Harvey, has Spina Bifida. They were just a few of the many affected by the long orthopaedic waiting lists.   Today, Harvey's...

Writing in todays Irish Examiner, Terry Prone, Chairman of the Communications Clinic detailed her experience of going under the knife to as she says to ‘iron out the creases’ – but why has she done it? And what has people’s reactions been?  Terry joined Andrea Gilligan on Lunchtime Live to discuss...

Have you struggled to get a GP recently?  A study by the Irish Independent shows that More than two out of three GPs in rural Ireland are not taking on new patients and some have waiting times of up to two weeks for an appointment.  Andrea was joined by Gerry Loftus, leader of the Rural Ireland Organisation, Fianna Fáil Councillor Norma Moriarty and listeners to discuss...

Former Taoiseach John Bruton has died.   The 76-year-old Fine Gael politician died peacefully in the Mater Private Hospital in Dublin, surrounded by his family, after a long illness.   John Bruton led Fine Gael from 1990 until 2001, and served as Taoiseach between December 1994 and June 1997 as head of the ‘rainbow coalition’ alongside Labour and Democratic Left.  Andrea w...

This year Andrea Gilligan is determined to make some changes and become that bit healthier!  Over the next few weeks Andrea will be joined by a number of different people to find out how they live well. Lukas Kinlock, owner of Cuan Ice Baths joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live today...

A recent survey shows that 25% of six year olds have their own phone and 45% of 10 year olds are allowed to use their smartphones in their bedroom. However many parents admitted to not feeling well-equipped to teach their kids how to stay safe online.  Should there be more of an onus on parents to learn how to teach their children how to navigate their smartphones safely?  Andrea was joi...