Highlights From Lunchtime Live

Welcome to The Pod Squad!We review podcasts every week so you always have something new to listen to.Host of the ‘What’s Trending in F1?’ podcast Elaine Power and Newstalk’s Ciaran Bradley  join Andrea to review ‘Elis James and John Robins’!Image: BBC

Many aspiring homeowners have been facing multiple challenges. The lack of housing and high costs have left people with no other choice but to look for more affordable housing in different areas across the country. This, however, also has its challenges. One of the major factors limiting potential homeowners are ‘Local Needs’.‘Local Needs’ are where a person cannot build a property if they do not have a local need in that area. Should this be the case, or should it be scrapped to tackle the housing crisis?To discuss, Andrea is joined by Laura Nolan, Professional Dancer from Dancing with the Stars, her partner Matthew McNabb, Town Planner Derek Whyte, Clement Herron from Clement Herron Real Estate and former IFA Deputy, Brian Rushe.

For this week’s Ask Me Anything, Pitch Manager of Croke Park, Stuart Wilson, joins Andrea to answer any of your pitch managing questions!

In some very positive news to bring us into the weekend, Westlife have announced they will be touring across Ireland next year to celebrate the band’s 25th anniversary.The first string of five consecutive concerts will take place next September in Dublin’s 3Arena, followed by another three day run in Belfast’s SSE Arena.Shane Filan joins Andrea to discuss!

Ireland ranks as the best country in Europe for ‘work-life balance’.Ireland tops the European index for the second year, thanks to its generous minimum wage and shorter working week compared to 2024 - beating countries like Iceland, Spain and Denmark by a generous margin.But, how accurate is this really. Do you think we have the best work life balance in Europe?Joining Andrea to discuss is Damien McCarthy, Managing Director of HR Buddy, as well as listeners.

A new plan for the treatment of endometriosis in Ireland is set to be announced over the weekend by the HSE.As it’s been discussed before on this show, endometriosis is a disease that affects women, where tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows instead in other parts of the body.This can lead to patients suffering from chronic, debilitating pain.The Health Minister has previously acknowledged that endometriosis care in Ireland has been underfunded, under-researched, and is not widely understood.This new plan is set to address these new issues, but what provisions does it need to include?Joining Andrea to discuss is Cate O’Connor, Co-Founder of MISE, an educational programme for Irish schools, as well as listeners.

From broken ankles to safe family places, Breakfast Briefing Presenter Shane Beatty joins Andrea Gilligan with plenty of stories from around the country this week!

A third of children say that they can use screens “whenever they want”. This comes after new research carried out by CyberSafeKids asked children aged between eight and twelve years of age about their screentime habits.With children having access to screens, be it laptops, tablets, phones and TV: do we try to minimise their usage ,or is it an easy life just to leave them to their own devices (literally)?So, do you minimise your child’s screen time?Lecturer in Psychology and author of ’Perfectly Imperfect Parenting: Connection Not Perfection’, Dr Mary O’Kane and listeners join Andrea to discuss.

You have to start somewhere, and when you’re thinking about doing the floor in your home, what is the right way to go about it?Well, the Home Squad are here to discuss rugs and flooring!Joining Andrea to discuss is Jenny Sheehan, Irish Examiner Columnist and former winner of ‘Home of the Year’ (@workerscottage on Instagram) and Kate O’Driscoll, @victorianrathmines on Instagram.

We’re only in October, but if you think about it, Christmas is only 10 weeks away! And with Christmas comes the Christmas expenses…To get ahead of the panic buying and the overall stress of spending, Andrea is joined by Michelle O’Hara, National Spokesperson for MABS to give a step-by-step guide on budgeting for Christmas.

HSE Dental Surgeons will head to Kilkenny today to voice their concerns over Government proposals to divert children's dental care to private clinics.It comes after a recent survey found that 90% of private dentists would not sign up for a new Government scheme for children’s dental care.Many feel that they cannot afford to access private dental care and as a result, many children are being left untreated…Joining Andrea to discuss this is Chair of the GP Committee of the Irish Dental Association, and a Dentist at Kiwi Dental in Carlow, Caroline Robbins, as well as listeners.

Emma Fogarty is the oldest living Irish person born with Epidermolysis Bullosa: an extremely rare and painful disease.When she was born, she wasn't expected to live beyond a week, yet 41 years later she has just released a book called ‘Being Emma: Living my best life with Butterfly Skin’ in which she details the resilience she and those around her have shown throughout her extraordinary life…She 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 Christy Moore’s album 'Ride On'!

The EU is pushing to scrap seasonal clock changes, risking the creation of a “time border” between Northern Ireland and Ireland.If it does become EU law, it would mean two different time zones on the island of Ireland for six months of the year.What do you think? Would this affect you? Is this a good idea?Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss…

David Crosby has been through a lot. He has had a double lung and kidney transplant, fought skin cancer, and was placed in a coma from complications after getting Covid-19…And yet, a few days ago, David completed the Chicago Marathon!He joins Andrea to discuss this amazing feat…Image: Road Runners Club of America

Should bonfires be left in the past, or do they just need better regulation? While there are obvious health and safety concerns associated with them, there’s a lack of public Halloween events in Dublin.So, could regulated bonfires fill the gap?Joining Andrea to discuss is Independent Councillor for Dublin Central, Cieran Perry, Connor Ó Buachalla from the Leap Scarecrow Festival in Cork 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…

We are just 9 days out from the Presidential election. For many young people around the country, it’ll be the first Presidential election they have voted in.There has been an increase in influencers posting about who they are voting for and the importance of voting.This brings up the question: what role social media will play in the election?Andrea is joined by Stephen O'Leary, Founder of Online News Media and Social Media Monitoring and Analysis company Olytico, and listeners, to discuss.

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 the cervical smear, and answer your questions!

A survey shows that a third of Irish workers failed to make full use of their holiday entitlements last year.It also shows that 1 out of 4 people leave over 5 days or more of annual leave…These figures may come as a surprise to you; do you use all of your holiday leave?Andrea is joined by Broadcaster and Celebrant Ruth Scott, as well as listeners, to discuss.