Highlights From Lunchtime Live

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 mum, Gillian Sherratt joined Andrea Gilligan on Lunchtime Live.Aaron and Edel are both parents in similar situations and they joined Andrea on the show today too...

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...

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...

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 was joined by Ivan Yates, Broadcaster, Former TD and Minister for Agriculture and Nora Owen Former TD and Minister for Justice to discuss...

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 to discuss hillwalking...

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 joined by Siobhan O’Neill-White, From Mams.ie, Ollwyn Moran, Neuro Developmental Therapist & Founder of COGNI Kids and others to discuss...

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...

Doctors in the UK are saying that women should be allowed buy the morning-after pill in supermarkets and petrol stations. They rection it’ll give them more control and that all barriers to emergency contraception should be removed. At the moment you need to have a consultation with a pharmacist in the UK, the same as here. Andrea was joined by GP Dr Máire Finn, Kathy Maher, Community Pharmacist from Haven Pharmacy in Duleek, Co Meath, Sheena Mitchell, Pharmacist in Milltown Total Health Pharmacy in Dublin and Columnist with the Irish Times, Brianna Parkins...

Tanya Sweeney wrote in the Independent today about the transition to ‘mum friends’ after having children. She writes that her new friends have not seen her drunk or even after 7pm! Does friendship change after having children?  Journalist Tanya Sweeney and other listeners joined Andrea 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... 

Do your children play rugby? Some sports experts in the UK are saying that rugby in schools is a form of child abuse and that parents don’t understand the huge risk of brain injury to their children. Is child abuse too strong a term? Andrea was joined by Professor Eric Anderson, Professor of Sport at the University of Winchester, Former Ireland and Leinster player Shane Byrne and Liam Morley Brereton, coach at St Bridget’s Boxing Club, Edenderry to discuss...

Looking for some new doors and windows 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...

We’ve teamed up with Laya Healthcare to explore wellbeing in the workplace. Today Andrea was joined by Dr Siobahn Chidley, GP with Watermills Family Practice in Kildare. The Laya Healthcare Workplace Wellbeing Index, available at layahealthcare.ie/wellbeingindex. Keep your finger on the pulse.

How serious a problem is cocaine in GAA?  Experts are claiming that the use of cocaine has “gone through the roof at club level” while dozens of inter-county players are being treated for drugs, alcohol and gambling issues. Is it an issue in your club? Are we doing enough to deal with it? Andrea was joined by GAA refereee Pat Byrne O'Connell, Shane Cassells, Fianna Fail Senator and others to discuss...

Last week Andrea was joined by Gayle on Lunchtime Live. Gayle cares for her 22-year-old son Luca full time in their home.  She is hoping for more help for people like herself and her son.Fine Gael Senator Mary Seery Kearney spoke about Gayle's story in the Seanad yesterday and she joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live today... Image: Oireachtas TV

Yesteray, Andrea spoke to Emma, a woman from Donegal whose husband can't gain access to Ireland from South Africa.Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live today by Albert Llussa, Partner and Head of Immigration and Human Rights at Daly Lynch Crowe & Morris Solicitors to explain Emma’s situation... 

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... 

The deposit return scheme begins today. Cans and plastic bottles will have a 15 cent levy applied and can be taken back to retailers to be recycled.  Will this scheme last or is it an inconvenience to shoppers and retailers? Andrea was joined by listeners and retailers to discuss...

A listener Emma, from Donegal, got in touch to share her incredible story. Emma’s husband Lawson is unable to get permission to enter Ireland from South Africa to see Emma and his children.  Andrea chatted to Emma chatted to Emma today about her story...

Do you let your children use screens? Or have you ever been shaming for denying them screentime? Writing in the Irish Independent today, Emma Armstrong talks about how she is apparently making her kids ‘weird’ by not allowed them to use screen.Emma Armstrong and Siobhan O’Neill White from mams.ie joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live to discuss...