Highlights From Lunchtime Live

More than 180 creches have closed in the last two years. The rate at which providers are shutting down has apparently slowed dramatically since the launch of the €287m “core funding scheme”. Core funding is a Government payment to providers to make it cheaper for parents. But with this many closing, it must still be having a massive impact on parents. Andrea was joined by childcare providers and parents to discuss...

There are very few of us in this country who haven’t been touched by cancer. Westlife’s Shane Filan sadly lost both his parents within 10 months of each other to the disease. He is now getting involved with the Irish Cancer Society ‘Celebrate & Remember’ event in the Aviva Stadium on September 29th. Shane and Gillian Filan joined Andrea in studio to discuss…

There were long queues at various ATMs last night as a technical glitch allowed customers to withdraw more money than they had available in their Bank Of Ireland accounts. A number of people were alarmed to see Gardai, in some areas, actually blocking access to a number of ATMs. Andrea was joined by Charlie Weston, Irish Independent personal finance editor, People Before Profit TD, Paul Murphy and other listeners to discuss…

What are some imaginative ways to reimagine our cities and towns in order to make them more attractive to tourists and also keep our young people from emigrating? Is Ireland no place for young people anymore? Andrea was joined by Rachel O'Neill, Newstalk's own Cathal O'Sullivan and Kevin from GAA-Works.ie to discuss...

Today Ireland remembers one of the biggests atrocities the country saw, the 25th anniversary of the Omagh bombing. 29 people were killed and the attack in 1998 devastated the town. Hundreds more were injured. It came just months after the Good Friday Agreement and was the greatest loss of life in a single incident in the North’s past. Andrea was joined by Kevin Skelton on Lunchtime Live to discuss losing his wife in the terrible tragedy 25 years ago. Listeners Liz and Bernie also told Andrea about their memories of this dark day in Omagh...

Derry girls creator Lisa McGee has expressed her frustration at her identity being dismissed as “not properly Irish” because she hails from Northern Ireland and not the Republic. Writer & commentator Emma de Souza, who also hails from Co Derry, shared her own experience of not being considered Irish while speeaking with Newstalk earlier today. Andrea was joined by listeners to discuss...

Anyone who buys clothes in normal chain shops will have experienced the madness that is the varying clothes sizes between different shops. You could be medium in one, and a large in another. Influencer Molly Mae Hague posted a picture of herself in size 14 Zara jeans recently on social media. It annoyed quite a lot of people that she’d ever be wearing size 14, because even after recently having a baby, she’s very small. Do clothes sizes vary from shop to shop on the high street and also versus online orders? Andrea was joined by Stylist Laura Mullet, Irish Independent Columnist Tanya Sweeney and listeners to discuss...

Restaurants in St Tropez in France have been criticized for keeping lists of people who don’t leave decent tips, and refusing to let them book a table again. Is this fair? Do you tip when you’re out? Or has the tipping culture gone too far? Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by listeners to discuss...

Dog behaviourist Suzi Walsh and Vet Tim Kirby joined Adrian Kennedy on Lunchtime Live to discuss helping your pets grieve when they lose a friend...

How much have you paid for a pint recently? Diageo will increase the price of its stout and beer products by 4 cent from today – just six months after a 12 cent hike in February. Publicans say that this could be the ‘tipping point’ for the industry. Adrian Kennedy was joined by publicans and listeners to discuss...

Three Gardai trainees have been sent home from Templemore – until they get their tattoos removed. It’s understood the tattoos were mostly on lower arms of the trainee gardai, and would have been visible to members of the public if the officers were wearing short-sleeve uniform shirts. The recruits were told they could return to the force’s training college once they had the tattoos removed. Is it the right decision on the part of Gardai bosses or is the Gardai dress code too restrictive in this day and age? Adrian Kennedy was joined by listeners to discuss...

Our summer memories series returns where we chat with some well-known faces and reminisce over those long summer days!  Author and Crime Journalist, Nicola Tallant joined Andrea to discuss...

On July 1st 1990 thousands lined the streets to celebrate the Irish football team who were greeted as champions despite bowing out in the quarter finals. An article today by Johnny Watterson in the Irish Times examines our unique obsession with homecomings, often for teams that haven’t actually won. Do we celebrate mediocracy in Ireland? Andrea was joined by Eoghan Corry and other listeners to discuss...

Should women consider giving their children their last name instead of the baby's father's surname? One London barrister, Dr Charlotte Proudman sparked an online debate during the week suggesting: "A message to pregnant women — please give the baby your surname. You carried a baby for 9 months, gave birth, and will be responsible for that child for the rest of your life." Andrea was joined by Dr Charlotte Proudman, Sarah Jayne Tobin, Content Editor with Evoke.ie and more to discuss...

Free GP care will be available for children aged six and seven for the first time from today. GP Visit Cards allow the holders to see their doctor without any charge, while still having to pay for medicines and other services. Children under 6 years of age have been eligible for GP Visit Cards since 2015. The move has been criticised by some who say that it will overstretch an already stretched service. Andrea was joined by Dr Martin Daly in Galway, Dr Diarmuid Quinlan, Medical Director of the Irish College of GPs and GP in Glanmire in Cork and listeners to discuss...

Author and Disability rights campaigner Geraldine Lavelle got the keys to her new home back in May, however a lack of care staff has put a halt to the move. Geraldine joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live to discuss her current situation...

Plans by Clare County Council to introduce year-round paid parking in tourist hotspots such as Kilkee, Lahinch, Doolin and Spanish Point have been met with criticism from residents and business owners who think that it will harm the local area. Has your area been negatively affected by parking charges? Andrea was joined by Cliodhna Fawl from the Lahinch Surf Shop, Cllr Liam Grant, Green Party Councillor in Lahinch and other listeners to discuss...

With holiday season at it's peak, Eoghan Corry, Editor of Air and Travel Magazine, joined Andrea Gilligan to answer any niggling travel questions listeners have...

Primary schools all around the country are struggling to fill teaching places. Shortages have been put down to things like poor wages and the high rental market. There are calls to not only increase the starting salary but also to offer more incentives to stop graduates leaving the country. Would that work? Or do we need more drastic intervention? Andrea was joined by principals, teachers and other listeners to discuss…

Should the voting age be lowered? Lowering the voting age is among a series of issues the new Electoral Commission has been asked to research. Andrea was joined by Shari Irfan, President of Irish Second-Level Students' Union and other listeners to discuss...