Highlights From Lunchtime Live

Ireland Fashion Week, the very first of its kind, begins next week on October 6th.The week will be full of shows, talks and exhibitions of fashion, both past and present.Entrepreneur and Founder of Irish Fashion Week, Ashley McDonnell, Stylist and Creative Designer Anne O’Shea and Jack Pierce join Andrea to discuss!

From claw machine rescue to oyster theft fiasco, Newstalk’s Eamonn Torsney joins Andrea with the stories from around the country that you might have missed this week…

The National Transport Authority are being questioned on when they will reinstate catering services on all Irish Rail intercity routes. The service, which was suspended during the Covid-19 pandemic, has not yet been fully restored.Senator Mark Duffy has called for this service to be reinstated saying “Passengers travelling long distances across the country deserve basic amenities, and catering should not be regarded as a luxury and is seen as a standard service on rail across Europe.”We want to know, how has your experience with Irish rail been recently? Were you recently on a train where you didn’t receive any food or drink?Joining Andrea to discuss is Chair of Galway Commuters Coalition, Lochlann Gallagher, Corporate Communications Manager with Irish Rail, Barry Kenny and listeners.

If you have a fireplace at home, you may not be using it to its full potential. So, what should you do with it, use it as intended, or turn it into something new?From function to decoration, the Home Squad are here to discuss fireplace potential!Joining Andrea to discuss is Jenny Sheehan, Irish Examiner Columnist and former winner of ‘Home of the Year’ (@workerscottage on Instagram) & Roisin Lafferty, Founder and Creative Director of Róisín Lafferty Design House.

The MetroLink rail line has been given the green light today!An Coimisiún Pleanála has approved the 19km line in full which could see airport to city journeys of 20 minutes…It’s definitely good news, but when do you think we will see the line completed?Andrea is joined by Cllr Feljin Jose,  Spokesperson for Transport for the Green Party, as well as listeners, to discuss.

Mayo University Hospital is reaching dangerous patient levels as it is running at 113% occupancy, when safe levels are 85%. It comes after nurses are balloting for strike action to address the issue.With a lack of injury units across the county, many people have no option but to attend the emergency department at Mayo University Hospital for minor treatments as they have no alternative options…Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss the issue.

The topic of eating disorders has been covered a lot for the past two weeks on Lunchtime Live. We’ve heard from listeners across the country about the issues they have dealt with themselves, and in their families.What we’ve come to understand is that many people have an issue with the lack of provisions provided for eating disorders here in Ireland. Lack of public beds, long waiting times for diagnoses, and difficulties finding specialist care are all issues that have been raised with us…Now we’re asking: why aren’t there more supports available in this area?Sorca Clarke, Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Mental Health, joins Andrea to discuss.

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 Head Tour Guide at the Irish Rock ‘N’ Roll Museum Experience, Alan Buckley, who’s going to talk through Take That’s album ‘Everything Changes’!

Do you believe inheritance tax should be scrapped? If so, you’re in the majority, according to data from a new survey.Research by Royal London Ireland found that 83% of adults in Ireland are in favour of getting rid of inheritance tax when it comes to the family home.Joining Andrea to discuss is the Money Doctor John Lowe, Jean Cashman. Registered Tax Consultant, as well as listeners…

Do you like holding a grudge? Is having a list of enemies part of the spice of life? Or, are grudges something we should avoid completely?Joining Andrea to discuss is Clinical Psychologist Tara Logan Buckley, Content Editor with Evoke, Sinead Dalton and listeners.

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.98FM’s Cathal O’Sullivan joined Andrea in the studio to put a smile on your faces…

The topic of eating disorders has been covered on this show a lot recently, and the impact that they can have on families and carers.Today, we wanted to talk to people who have battled eating disorders themselves, to understand their own personal experience.Franciska Maria, Personal Trainer and Nutritionist and Shane Blake both join Andrea to share their stories…

Every Wednesday afternoon, we’ll be talking Making Babies.Andrea will be joined by Professor Shane Higgins, Master of the National Maternity Hospital to cover every area of trying to have a baby. From the very start of knowing how to prepare, right up to pregnancy – and all the bumps in the road in between.This week, Shane joins Andrea to discuss what seems to be a new medical breakthrough, and answer your questions.

New protections for businesses against defamation claims aren’t good enough, according to business owners.The Defamation Bill 2024, which is due before the Seanad today, does not go far enough to protect businesses, they claim, and they have called for certain amendments.Joining Andrea to discuss is Tara Buckley. Retail Grocers Trade Association Director General, Ronan Lupton, Senior Counsel and Specialist in Media Law, as well as business owners.

Middle Abbey Street and North Frederick Street have been chosen for a ‘bold urban-rejuvenation’ pilot scheme.Gardaí and nurses will be among ‘key workers’ eligible to rent in the new low-cost Dublin city homes.But, who should be considered a key worker and will they be able to afford these new cost rental schemes?Joining Andrea to discuss is Chair of the Urban Redevelopment Working Group, Soc Dems Cllr Cian Farrell, former Garda inspector in north central Dublin, former Deputy-Secretary of the AGSI and current Risk, Security & Event Manager of Ashtree Risk Group, Tony Gallagher and listeners.

For this week’s Ask the Expert, Andrea is joined by Pat Keville, owner of the Plant Store in Dublin to answer any of your plant-related questions!

No, it’s not an episode of Black Mirror, AI actors are supposedly an up and coming thing. Tilly Norwood is an AI actress made by company Particle6, but the real question is: would you watch an AI actor? Or, would you rather stick with the real thing?Joining Andrea to discuss is Casting Director Shauna Griffith and Aisling Goodwin, Actor and Dialect Coach.Image: Xicoia

As we move from summer into the winter months, the weather is getting darker and more gloomy.And it’s not just the general atmosphere that’s affected, as storm season will soon get underway…But, is the Government prepared to tackle extreme weather events?The Climate Advisory Council has warned that there has been no tangible storm action taken since storms Darragh and Eowyn, which wreaked havoc across the country earlier this year.Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

“Text me when you get home” is a very common phrase used among women. Whether you are jumping in a taxi after a night out, or driving home from the cinema, the departure among girls and their friends is one that always ensures that they get home safely.Andrea’s two guests are so well versed in this topic that they have dedicated a comedy show to it.In partnership with the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, comedians Claire Roche and Justine Halpin will be performing their comedy show ‘Are Ya Alright Getting Home?’. They join Andrea to discuss.If you ever need it, the Dublin Rape Crisis phone number is available 24/7 on 1800 77 88 88.

It’s How I Live Well time! Where someone joins to discuss what they do to improve their life…This week, Andrea is joined by Tim Pringle, Hidden Hearing's Chief Audiologist in Northern Ireland to discuss ear wax removal!