Highlights From Lunchtime Live

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...

With the recent Barbie and Oppenheimer mania and the record breaking numbers of people that went to see them - there have been reports of a decline in cinema etiquette. Do people chat to their friends loudly during a movie? Do we need to ban popcorn from cinemas? Have we completely lost the ability to sit in the dark and be quiet? Andrea was joined by listeners to discuss...

Last year the State provided over €128 million in funding to private schools, it has been found. Over the last five years payments from the Government to private schools have amounted to €588m. Is it right for private schools to be tapping into the resources of the State? Andrea was joined by listeners to discuss...

Living with a chronic illness in Ireland can be difficult – from prolonged waiting times for a diagnosis to having to travel abroad for treatment, there are so many challenges to face when you have a chronic illness. Andrea was joined by Ann, Orla, Anne Marie and Emily Larkin, founder of Invisible Disability Ireland to discuss...

Summer can be a stressful time for parents. Children are off school and most parents still have to work. This can often see parents 'shaming' for the decisions they make. Chrissie Russell, Freelance journalist with the Irish Independent and others joined Andrea to discuss...

Fans are lining the seafront in Bray to pay tribute and bid farewell to Singer Sinead O’Connor as her funeral cortege passes by. Newstalk's Chief Reporter Barry Whyte joined Andrea from Bray...

In Cork there are 14 times more short-term lets on Airbnb than rental homes available on Daft.ie. In Dublin it’s 6 times and in Galway there are 23 times more short-term lets on Airbnb than rental homes available on Daft.ie. There are huge differences across the country between the amount of homes available for people to rent, and the amount of holiday properties available. The impact this must be having on the housing and rental crisis is undeniable. Andrea was joined by listeners to discuss...

Wexford woman Deirdre Bonass is using her experience of skin cancer to urge people to use sun factor. Deirdre is recovering from basal cell carcinoma (BCC) skin cancer and joined Andrea Gilligan on the show to tell us all about her experience...

This weekend is the August is the Bank Holiday weekend. Doubtless, many of you have made plans to head away for the weekend. Keith Walsh, Writer & Broadcaster along with callers joined Andrea on the show to discuss if it's ok to go on holiday without your children...

A picture posted online of the rewilded garden in front of Trinity College in Dublin has sparked a lot of discussion. One commentator said it makes Trinity look like another ‘derelict urban property’, while others applauded the wildflowers. What do you think? Andrea Gilligan was joined by callers to get their views on rewilding...

Is TV still worth it? Irish consumers will spend 1.3 billion euros on streaming services this year – while another report in the UK shows that Broadcast TV audiences have seen the sharpest fall since records began. Andrea asked listeners if they still watch TV.

A new survey has found that 64 percent of homeowners say cost is the main barrier to carrying out an upgrade to their home. It also found that 76 percent of homeowners have, or plan to make their homes more energy efficient. So today we are asking you, is there work you would like to do on your house that you simply can’t afford to do? Architect Roisin Murphy joined Andrea Gilligan to answer listeners questions...

What time do you go to sleep every night? A recent study by Kings College London found that even a 90-minute difference in the time you sleep can massively affect your gut health. Tom Coleman, health scientist, and sleep coach joined Andrea on the show to discuss...

Musicians and stage crew working in Dublin city center say they’re worried that violence in the city will impact our nightlife. It comes after it was announced last night that a man in his 30s after being attacked on Sunday morning and after the attack on US tourist Stephen Termini last month. Musicians and gig-goers say they’re worried about being out late. Rebecca CappuccinI spokesperson for the Music and Entertainment Association of Ireland along with callers joined Andrea Gilligan on the show.