Highlights From Lunchtime Live

Journalist, Chrissie Russell’s four-year-old son has been diagnosed as having a ‘severe learning disability’. Because of it, he’s non-verbal. Chrissie joined Andrea to talk about dealing with this as a parent, and the difficulties navigating ‘the system’...

Would you plan out your funeral? Jenny Curran wants to put the FUN in funeral and is currently planning what she wants people to do when she dies. Jenny joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live to discuss her plans…

Yesterday, Dublin Commuter Coalition met with Minister Jack Chambers about the Road Safety Action Plan. They are calling for urgent progress on default 30kph speed limits in urban areas. Would you support a default 30kph speed limit? Andrea was joined by Lauren Tuite, Michael, Noel Horgan from the Drogheda Cycling group and other listeners to discuss…

Do we respect our defense forces enough? Irish Defence Forces’ charity has today unveiled QR-coded camouflage streetwear to raise vital funds for homeless veterans. Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by Martin and Brendan, former members of the Defence Forces, others who served and family members to discuss...

A local Drogheda football club is heartbroken today to find their container with all their equipment was set on fire overnight. The container which houses dressing rooms, as well as nets, balls, pitch marker and their training equipment are all ruined. Andrea was joined by Brian O’Reilly is the Manager of Abbey Celtic Football Club in Drogheda and Robbie Martin from Leixlip United football club to discuss... Image: Twitter - Abbey Celtic Fc Drogheda @fc_abbey

There have been 200 complaints to the National Transport Authority about taxis not accepting card payments, despite rules that came in to place in September that said that every taxi in Ireland must accept credit and debit card payments as well as cash. Andrea was joined by listeners and taxi drivers to discuss…

Irish cancer survivors say they are left unable to access insurance or mortgages years after recovery. They say that having to disclose their diagnosis, even if they’re in remission, prevents them from getting things like life insurance or a mortgage. They say it’s discriminatory and the ‘Right to Be Forgotten’ must be adopted into Irish Law. However, the insurance industry is pushing back. Andrea was joined by Ciarán, Erica, Paul Merriman, Financial Adviser from askpaul.ie and other listeners to discuss…

An interesting article in today’s Irish Independent - ‘One and done: Why is there still stigma around being an only child?’ - the article explores the old myth that apparently still persists about the ‘lonely’ only child. What do you think? Is there still a stigma around single child families? Barbara Neeson, who wrote the article, joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live today to discuss. Listeners Jo, Rosemary and Mark also joined the show…

Cabinet yesterday signed off on the list of St Patrick’s day visits for ministers across the globe. As usual, the Taoiseach will travel to the White House to meet President Joe Biden. But should the Taoiseach celebrate our national day in Ireland instead? Andrea was joined by former Government minister, Shane Ross and listeners to discuss...

There are plans to knock down some early 20th century buildings in the Liberties area of the city, to build a new Aparthotel. A number of people aren’t happy saying we need more housing for locals, and that the city has enough hotels as it is. However we regularly hear about the cost of hotels in Dublin, and how it’s often cheaper to go somewhere sunny for a week than it is to stay in the country. So could the answer to this be more hotels? Or do you think they’re ruining the city? Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by historian, Kieran Doyle-O’Brien, Catherine McSweeney, Secretary of the Liberties Local Residents Association, Michael Lennon, Director of the Skylon Hotel in Dublin and James Madigan, Stalwart of the Liberties Cultural Association…

40,000 French fans ascended on Dublin City last weekend for the 6 Nations clash between Ireland and France in the Aviva Stadium. But was the atmosphere from Irish fans below par? Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by Gerry Thornley, Rugby Correspondent with the Irish Times and listeners to discuss...

People Before Profit TD Gino Kenny has accused the Government of ‘dragging its heels’ when it comes to forming a special committee on assisted dying. He said that when a committee is formed it would be expected to run for nine months, meaning that no recommendations would be made on assisted dying until the end of this year at the earliest. What do you think about assisted dying? Would you like to see legislation to allow it brought in? Andrea was joined by listeners on Lunchtime Live to discuss…

Ireland beat France in a brilliant game in the 6 Nations at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday. Tickets were at a premium but there was frustration for some wheelchair users who had struggled to get tickets. Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by Jack Kavanagh, Phillip and William to discuss…

RAG Week kicks off once again in Galway today, starting with Mayo Monday, and the famous Donegal Tuesday tomorrow. Students will be out in their droves, but is it a good or a bad thing for the city? Have college RAG weeks lost their way? Are charities still at the focal point of the events? Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by chef and restaurateur, JP McMahon, Sai Gujulla, President NUIG Student Union, Darragh Mullin, owner of the Hole in The Wall bar in Galway City and others to discuss… Image: Twitter @universitytimes

New figures today show that 42 Garda stations in Ireland have no permanent Gardai attached to them. On top of that, almost one in four garda stations around the country have fewer gardaí compared to last year according to an analysis of staffing levels of Garda stations nationwide. Have you been affected by a lack of Garda presence in your area? Do people in rural Ireland feel safe as a result of the lack of Gardaí? Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by listeners throughout Ireland to discuss…

Should Ireland introduce mandatory sentencing to tackle crime in the country? Questions were raised during the week about the sentencing of a teenager, who was spared jail, after he was involved in an attack which resulted in a woman having boiling water poured over her. Andrea was joined by Ruth Maxwell, a victim’s advocate, Noeline Blackwell, CEO of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre and other listeners to discuss…

4,500 have arrived in Ireland since the start of 2023. With a number of hotels planning to return to tourism for the summer, there could be even more people who need somewhere to stay. A few weeks ago on Lunchtime Live, Andrea spoke to several people, all around the country – who said they had large holiday homes that they wanted to offer to house refugees, and that they just couldn’t get a response from the Government. Today on the show, Andrea was joined again by Noel Spillane, owner of the B&B Annascaul House, Charlie, Maurice and Michael to see if anything had changed since we spoke last...

Lynda, a listener, got in touch with Lunchtime Live about some of the sexual education books on the school curriculum and available to teenagers in libraries around the country. Some of the recommended books are part of partnership between An Post and Children’s Books Ireland to present a ‘Pride Guide’ for children. What would you deem to be ‘sexually explicit’ in regards to sex education? Is it better to teach children about all of these things instead of them learning about them from the internet? Andrea was joined by Lynda, Amy, a psychotherapist, Sarah Sproule, sex educator and other listeners to discuss…

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky today in Brussels. The Ukrainian leader is addressing a special meeting of the European Council after trips to London and Paris. Leo Varadkar said this morning he'll offer Ukraine Ireland's continuing support But are we doing enough? Is Ireland’s neutrality something that needs to be re-examined? Andrea was joined by retired members of the Defence Forces, Tom, Kevin and Michael and listeners Ben and John to discuss…

Are young people ignored in Ireland? New research by The Youth Lab At Thinkhouse reveals that 63% of young people don’t trust in the state to actively govern in their best interests. Andrea was joined by Claire Hyland from The Youth Lab, Councillor Paddy Meade, Niamh, Caillum, Ciarán and Rebecca to discuss...