Highlights From Lunchtime Live

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... 

Could putting a cap on commercial buildings help tackle the housing crisis?  An ERSI think-tank has suggested the construction industry would divert its focus to residential building if a limit was put on the number of commercial properties awarded planning permission each year. Should we say ‘no more’ to commercial buildings until more housing is developed?  Andrea was joined by Rory Hearne, Author of ‘Gaffs’ and associate Professor of Social Policy at Maynooth University, Andrea Horan, Tom Phillips, Managing Director of Tom Phillips and Associates, Adjunct Associate Professor of Architecture and Planning in UCD and more to discuss...

Greece has introduced a cap on the cost of baby formula. A 7% profit cap on formula will take effect in March and follows a series of similar initiatives over the past two years for basic items. Andrea was joined by Dr Liz O’Sullivan, lecturer in nutrition at the TU Dublin and member of Baby Feeding Law Group Ireland and other listeners to discuss...

Are cheaper energy prices on the way? Yuno has now joined SSE Airtricity and Pinergy in announcing two reductions in their tariffs in the past few months – so will other providers be forced to follow? Daragh Cassidy from Bonkers.ie joined Andrea to answer listeners questions...

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... 

Have you been hit by probate issues when buying or selling a house? Solicitors are warning that home sales are falling through because grants of probate are taking up to 22 weeks. Andrea was joined by listeners and experts in the field to discuss...

Dublin is now the second slowest city in the world for drivers.  The average time to travel 10 kilmetres in Dublin is 29 minutes and 30 seconds.  Despite ranking second in terms of time spent travelling 10km, Dublin ranked first in terms of congestion – with the company’s analysis suggesting the city has a 66% congestion level. Andrea was joined by listeners and commuters to discuss...

New advice out today says that children and adults should take Vitamin D supplements every day til mid-March. We hear so much about different supplements and it’s hard to know which advice you should pay attention to, and what to ignore. Andrea was joined by Registered Dietician Orla Walsh to discuss...

We have made a new year’s resolution on the show this year to look on the brighter side of life.  Our new item Lunchtime Live's Reasons to be Happy, will look at some of the news stories that you might have missed that will leave you feeling more optimistic.  As the cold snap continues, it's pretty gloomy outside and now more than ever we need a reason to be happy!   Newstalk’s own Cathal O’Sullivan joined Andrea in studio to put a smile on your faces.... 

Have you attended a women’s sports event? Well if not, you’re not alone. New Research by LIDL and Red C show that almost 60% of Irish people have never attended a live women's sporting event in this country while almost half (46%) saying that men’s sport is generally better to watch. Andrea was joined by Alanna Cunnane, Sports journalist and listeners to discuss...

Pope Francis has called for a global ban on surrogacy, saying it’s "deplorable" and a grave violation of the dignity of the woman and the child. Andrea Gilligan was joined by Senator Mary Seery Kearney and others to discuss...  

How should we market Ireland abroad? From the 10 year anniversary of the wild Atlantic way to Ireland being the home of Halloween -Tourism Ireland are launching their plans to attract visitors to Ireland in 2024 – how do you think we should focus on?  Andrea was joined by Eugene Garrihy, Dublin Bay Cruises, Chris McCarthy, Manager of Achill Tourism and Senator Roisin Garvey to discuss...

A Dublin city centre laneway that is known for drug use, violence and anti-social behaviour is being shut to the public. Dublin city councillors voted to shut Harbour Court to the public because of the issues that they’ve been unable to control.  Andrea was joined by Sinn Féin Councillor for Dublin City, Janice Boylan, Former Lord Mayor and Dublin City Councillor, Hazel Chu and more to discuss...

Coming back after January, 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.Anne Marie Boyhan, Holistic Sleep Expert, founder of the Sleep Care Company and Author of the 'Sleep Journal' joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live today...

Two-year-old Joey from Tullamore has overcome more hurdles in his short life that many people encounter over 50 years. After being diagnosed with a rare condition, his family are now hoping to raise enough money to bring him to America for life changing surgery. Joey’s mother Natalie joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live today...

Dr Nina Byrnes joined Andrea Gilligan to tackle your medical queries...

A year ago we were contacted by Kate. Kate spoke to us about the issues she was having working in the HSE, which she said was rife with bullying. It kicked off a huge conversation that reached all corners of the country – people rang and emailed in their droves to tell us about their experiences. One year on, Andrea was joined by David Cullianne TD, Sinn Féin's Health Spokesperson and others who joined us last year 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 chatted through recipes for a Seedy Soda Bread and a Use Up Leftover Quiche.Follow the hashtag #LLBigBatch for all our recipes.

Would you like to see some land in parks in Dublin repurposed for housing? That is the suggestion from businessman Paschal Taggart who says that 10% of the capitals 4,500 acres of parks could be used to house up to 80,000 teachers, Gardaí, nurses and firefighters.  Would you be willing to sacrifice greenspace from parts of the Phoenix Park, Marlay Park, Malahide Castle, St Anne’s Park and others if it meant that we could provide housing for key workers?  Andrea was joined by Cllr Dermot Lacey, Labour Cllr for Pembroke on Dublin City Council, John Moran, Former Chair of the Land Development Agency, Hugh Wallace, Director of Douglas Wallace Architects and more 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 Sarah Morrissey, Fashion Model &  Former Miss Ireland...