Highlights From Lunchtime Live

People living in council housing may be required to pay higher rent contributions if their adult children are working and earning an income.With the rising cost of living and the ongoing housing crisis making it increasingly difficult for adults to move out, is the Government’s failure to address housing affordability now placing an unfair financial burden on families who are already struggling?Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss…

Dr Niall Breen from the Portmarnock GP Clinic joined Andrea Gilligan to tackle your medical queries.

For the past few weeks, we’ve heard heartbreaking stories from listeners about their experiences of being carers for their disabled adult children – and their worries about what’ll happen to them when they die…So, where do we go from here?Joining Andrea to discuss is Derval McDonagh, CEO of Inclusion Ireland.

The pledge taken by children at confirmation has been updated to include abstinence from smoking and vaping, alongside drinking and using illicit drugs.The change follows a sharp increase in young people smoking and vaping, which the church described as a “thoughtful and prayerful response to the lived realities of young people today.”Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

DNA tests have become very popular, whether to find long lost relatives, to trace your ethnicity, or maybe to find out some answers about your health – but sometimes the results can bring up more questions than answers...That was certainly the case for Summer McKesson, who joins Andrea to discuss…

Welcome to The Pod Squad!We review podcasts every week so you always have something new to listen to.Newstalk’s Rory Galvin and Host of the ‘For Tech’s Sake’ podcast Elaine Burke join Andrea Gilligan to review ‘Ill-advised by Bill Nighy’!Image: EYEPOD Studios

More than 1,000 people were arrested for driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol at the end of 2025. Even more concerning, one individual was arrested 15 times within a three-year period in 2021 - a striking example of repeat offending that calls into question the effectiveness of current enforcement measures and deterrents on Irish roads.What does this mean for the safety of drivers, cyclists and pedestrians on Irish roads? Do we need more Garda presence to ensure safety on Irish roads?Joining Andrea to discuss is Editor with Completecar.ie, Shane O’Donoghue, as well as listeners.

For this week’s Ask Me Anything, Andrea was joined by the manager at Emerald Park Theme park Ross Ennis !

With tomorrow being Valentines day, there will be many who may feel pressure to pop the question tomorrow. But should you? Joining Andrea to discuss  was Counselling psychologist Niamh Delmar and  Nick Appleby from Appleby Jewellers, who sell engagement rings

For the past two weeks, Lunchtime Live has spoken to parents who are caring for adult children with intellectual disabilities about their struggles to get support for their care. Yesterday, Andrea spoke to Mother “Anna” who dropped her daughter off at A&E because she had reached a breaking point in trying to care for her. Today, Taoiseach Micheal Martin responded to Anna's story. Andrea also spoke and met in person Tony Murray, the Founder of the Before We Die Campaign, his wife, Susan and their daughter, Aoife at their home

Over the past few decades, the number of tourists in Dublin has been on the rise, helping to create jobs and fuel the economy. But has the city become to tourist centric? And is it making the quality of life for residents worse with noise pollution ? Joining Andrea to discuss was Robbie Kitt - DJ, Give us the Night Campaign, Jamie Harrington and Aaron, a Taxi Driver in Dublin

From ghostly goings on in Leinster House, to Irish interest at Crufts – Laura Donnelly joined Andrea with a roundup of some of the stories from across the country this week.

Severe flooding has caused significant disruption across Dublin following heavy rainfall overnight, with many areas experiencing dangerous road conditions and traffic delays.Dublin Airport has urged passengers to allow extra travel time due to heavy congestion and flooding on key routes to the airport.Meanwhile, residents on Marrsfield Avenue in the Belmayne area have been particularly hard hit, with floodwaters causing extensive damage to homes and vehicles.Andrea was joined by those who have been affected by the flooding overnight aswell as Alan O’Reilly from Carlow weather, and Conor Doyle is an assessor, Graeme McQueen, Media relations Manager with the DAA and broadcaster Adrian Kennedy

Earlier in the show Andrea spoke to one mother Anna who had been driven to breaking point looking for support who had no other option but to drop her daughter at A&E. Cian O’Callaghan- Deputy Leader of the Social Democrats joined Andrea to discuss.

Tony Murray spoke to us about how difficult life can be for parents looking after adult children with intellectual disabilities, he mentioned one mother who had been driven to breaking point looking for support who had no other option but to drop her daughter at A&E... That mother joined Andrea to discuss

You spend a lot of your life on one, so how do you know if you’re sleeping on the right mattress for you?This week, the Home Squad are here to discuss all things tech and home,Joining Andrea to discuss is  Jenny Sheahan -Home Squad Regular and ‘workers cottage’ on Instagram  and Jenny Butler  from Jennifer Anne Interiors  

It has been revealed that sales of shots and drinks surged in the Dail bar last year, rising by a four hundred and forty five thousand euro.So what do you think of this bar tab?Andrea was joined by Aisling Moloney, Newstalk Reporter and former Political Correspondent Fianna Fail TD, Malcolm Byrne Malcolm Byrne, Brid Smith former People before profit TD, former Senator, Mary Seary Kearney  and callers who voiced their opinion on the Dail bar

A recent study has found that daughters cost parents more than sons. According to the research, daughters are more likely to want pricier clothes, beauty products and experiences, with parents also reportedly spending more on things like activities and social costs.?  So Are boys more expensive than their female siblings?  Joining Andrea was  Katie Makk from Opinions Matter Podcast and  Presenter with Today FM, Alison Curtis

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 David Bowie's Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust

Panic attacks can be brought on by bouts of anxiety and leave people utterly debilitated...  Dominique McMullan, Image Media Editorial Director, shared her story online and joined Andrea to reflect on the impact of Panic Attacks on her and what she has done to address them