Highlights From Lunchtime Live

Lonely Planet has said that the Ireland guide is one of its top sellers around the world. Along with Ireland, the other top sellers are Japan, Iceland, Thailand and New York City. Ireland has also featured in Lonely Planet’s Best Beaches, which named Achill Island’s Keem Bay among the world’s 100 best. Tom Hall, Vice President of Lonely Planet across UK & Europe joined 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.  Newstalk’s own Cathal O’Sullivan joined Andrea in studio to put a smile on your faces...Image: Netflix

The new Dublin Airport Taxi Permit, which comes into effect today, could see increased waiting times for passengers according to taxi firm FREENOW.  The permit will grant permission to all drivers who pay a yearly fee of €10 to collect a pre-booked fare from one of the airport car parks but will not allow taxis to enter a taxi stand to pick up passengers, including joining of a virtual or digital queue on a taxi app. The move has been criticised by drivers who say it will result in reduced taxi availability and longer waiting times.  Andrea was joined by Graeme McQueen, Media relations Manager with the DAA and taxi drivers to discuss...

Welcome to The Pod Squad!We’ll review podcasts every Tuesday so you’ll have something new to listen to. Andrea was joined by Rebekah Shekleton from 98fm's Big Breakfast and Colm Boohig from Off The Ball to discuss 'SmartLess'...

More than 80 per cent of public transport workers say they have been the target of abuse and more than half say antisocial behaviour is an issue for them at least once a week. That is according to a new survey by trade union SIPTU who are looking for the establishment of a dedicated transport police. Is there too much anti-social behaviour on public transport? Do we need transport police?  Andrea was joined by Matt Rice, Go Ahead Ireland and Alan and Raymond who have experience working in public transport...

Anna Mills family know only too well about the struggles to get care for children with scoliosis. Her 2 daughters have the condition, with her youngest currently struggling to even get an appointment with a consultant. Anna joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live alongside Sinn Fein’s David Cullinane, TD and Party Health Spokesperson...

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.Patrick McKeown is creator, CEO and Director of Education and Training at Oxygen Advantage joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live today...

The Pleasure Boys took their XLL Tour to Belfast last Saturday and it has caused a social media storm. The videos show the dancers fully naked, dancing with women on stage.Andrea was joined by John Woodward, Owner and Director of Pleasure Boys XXL Tour and Regina Sparkles, lead Drag Queen with the team...

Lots of Irish success stories at the BATFAs last night - Cillian Murphy won best actor for his role in Oppenheimer.  But the big stars were the Irish production company behind 'Poor Things.' The film won 5 BATFAs and was made by the Dublin based company Element Pictures. Andrea was joined by Andrew Lowe who is Co-CEO and founder of Element Pictures, the Producer of 'Poor Things'.... 

Transport Infrastructure Ireland says the MetroLink is needed for Dublin because the country is outgrowing its current transport infrastructure. It told the first day of An Bord Pleanala's oral hearing into the project that congestion could cost the Irish economy two-billion euro a year.Andrea was joined by Feljin Jose, Chairperson of the Dublin Commuter Coalition and other listeners to discuss...

Fashion Stylist and Journalist Laura Mullett was in New York for her wedding anniversary and had revamped her wedding dress to wear for the occasion. Would you ever have your wedding dress revamped?Andrea was joined by Laura and Mags Morgan, Owner of Mizz Rio Bridal, the original provider of alternative wedding dresses in Ireland and listener Jacinta to discuss...

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 meatballs...Follow the hashtag #LLBigBatch for all our recipes.

Are normal people being priced out of cultural events? Joe O’Shea, Editor of CorkBeo.ie, pointed out in his column in the Irish Daily Mirror this morning the absurd prices of grandstand tickets in Dublin on St Patrick’s day He says:  ‘There's something a little sad about limiting the best seats for our biggest national celebration to those who can afford it (and on O'Connell Street, you're talking a grand for a family of four)’ Andrea was joined by Joe O'Shea and other listeners to discuss...

On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Shane and Ciara were talking about the lies that people tell their children – from the ice cream van playing music when they’ve run out of ice cream to eating your crusts making your hair curly. But is it ok to lie to your kids?  Psychiatrist Brendan Kelly joined Andrea to discuss...

Lhara, a listener from Galway, joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live to discuss something she noticed amongst her children and their friends recently...

Time-over-distance’ speed cameras look set to be extended nationally – would you be in favour of this? Time-over-distance speed cameras monitor vehicles at two distinct points a set distance apart and note the exact time a vehicle passes each camera.  Is this the best way to deal with speeding? Andrea was joined by listeners to discuss...

Croke Park have announced that they’ll no longer be accepting screenshots of tickets into their grounds. They’ve said that from now on the ticket will either have to be printed out, or in your wallet app. Naturally this has annoyed a lot of people- saying it’ll just create issues for no real reason. Andrea was joined by listeners to discuss...

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... 

Looking to give your house a fresh look on a budget?Architect Roisin Murphy and Hardware Expert Alan Grant joined Andrea with some tricks of the trade to give you tips for painting your house...

Is enough done to deal with drugs in Cork? Before Christmas there was a spate of overdoses in the city, with the HSE issuing warnings about a nitazene-type substance. Does the city get enough attention when it comes to drug issues and dealing with them? Andrea was joined by David Lane, General Manager for Social inclusion in the HSE, Fianna Fáil Councillor Colm Kelleher and Nicole Ryan, a counsellor specializing in addiction, who also give talks in schools to discuss...