Highlights From Lunchtime Live

The new Sale of Alcohol Bill which could see pubs open until 6am has been delayed, Government officials have confirmed. The bill, aimed at transforming Irish nightlife and developing a new 'night-time economy’, was to be introduced in the next few months but now it will be delayed until after Christmas. Andrea was joined by Robbie Kitt, DJ and Spokesperson for Give us the Night Campaign, Kim, a trader in Dublin City Centre and other listeners to discuss...

Brendan Tierney, a driving instructor in Sligo got in touch with Lunchtime Live to voice his concerns about the attitudes towards learner drivers on the road. Brendan, Libby a learner driver and listeners Dave and Patrick all joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live to discuss...

Have we got enough green areas in our towns and cities? A new café is currently being built in a Dublin Park, but locals feel they’re being ignored in their objections to it. Laura, a listener in Dublin joined Andrea to voice her concerns. Averil, in Ashbourne and Rebecca in Waterford also joined Lunchtime Live to discuss the lack of green spaces in our towns and cities...

Liadán Hynes, Author of ‘Courting: Tractor dates, Macra babies and Swiping Right in Rural Ireland’ joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live to discuss the challenges facing those in rural Ireland when trying to date...

Catholic Bishops over the weekend expressed concern that old people were being treated like a burden in conversations around assisted dying. They’ve said it leaves them feeling vulnerable and even like bed blockers. Is this really how we treat our elderly? Journalist, Valerie Cox and People Before Profit TD, Gino Kenny joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live to discuss...

A café in London has banned dairy products completely because they say that the mass production of animal milk is cruel and unethical. Some cafés in Dublin have also been spotted trialling only offering milk alternatives in place of dairy milk. Andrea was joined by Louise Crowley, Full Time Dairy Farmer, Gerry Boland, Animal Rights Campaigner, Founder and Spokesperson of Animals Behind Closed Doors, Darina McCafferty, owner of vegetarian restaurant Cornucopia and others to discuss...

A GAA coach in Carlow has been criticized after telling his under 17 team that if he saw there name down for the soccer squad, they wouldn’t be playing in a county final this evening. Do you agree with him? Or should young people be encouraged to participate in more than one sport? Andrea was joined by Cllr Frank Quinlan, Fine Gael Councillor in Waterford, Tim Barry, Club chairman with Rathdowney-Errill GAA, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Labour TD and Hughie in Wicklow to discuss...

The pandemic impacted us all in different ways but for some it reignited a love for the outdoors and brought them closer to nature during a time of instability. With 40 per cent of people taking up a new outdoor activity since the beginning of Covid-19, has the pandemic changed our relationship with the outdoors forever? Andrea was joined by Deirdre, Jane, Mary, Sandie and Matthew to discuss their new found love for the outdoors...

September has been polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) awareness month. It’s also known as PCOS, and I must admit, I really don’t know much about it. I know it’s a hormone issue that can cause complications when trying to get pregnant. But not much else. I’ve no idea how many people it affects or how it can be treated. I’m joined now by Nicola who has PCOS. Nicola when were you diagnosed?

There have been complaints in Killarney that the busking there has gotten out of control. Some businesses are even turning up their speakers outside to drown them out. Should there be more rules around buskers? Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by Marie Moloney, Former Mayor and local Councillor in Killarney, Niall O’Callaghan, Owner of the Failte Hotel in Killarney and David Owens, Busker & Musician to discuss...

The rapper Coolio has died. He was a regular resident of Dublin in recent years too. He was working on a song with Christy Dignam from Aslan and worked with Dublin rappers Versatile too. He said he loved the city, and was even spotted in a Dublin jersey once. Jonathan Smith, owner of Ernestos Cafe and Joe Ballance, from the Hard Rock Hotel in Templebar Dublin joined Andrea to tell their memories of the rapper...

Every week, we give you the chance to put your questions to the experts. This week, Andrea puts your rail travel queries to Barry Kenny from Irish Rail...

Despite all the doom and gloom about the cost of living in Ireland, the number of Irish people returning to the Emerald Isle is at its highest level since 2007. On the other hand, there is an almost equal number of Irish people emigrating in search of a better life, with 28,300 leaving during the same period. Andrea was joined by Rebecca Roche who recently moved to New York, Patricia who moved home to Ireland after living in France and Denise, who is making the move Australia soon..

Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly is planning to extend free contraception scheme to 16-year-old girls, even though the current age of consent is 17. The change is set to come into effect from 1 September 2023. With the legal age for accessing free contraception being lowered, should we also be looking at lowering the age of consent? Andrea was joined by Emer Neville from the Irish Second Level Students Union, Dr. Catherine O’Sullivan, from the School of Law at UCC and listener Neil, to discuss...

We’ve been hearing many stories recently of students unable to find college accommodation. Some are sleeping in their cars, some doing huge daily commutes and some even deferred places because they couldn’t make it work. But, it’s not just the students, it’s the teachers too. Andrea was joined by Niall Kennedy, a teaching fellow at Trinity College Dublin, who is staying in a hostel while he is teaching in Dublin...

Do you have a difficult relationship with your in-laws? If that is the case there may be some light at the end of the tunnel. Aisling Burke and mother-in-law Ann McDonnell, started their relationship off on rocky ground, but they have now found something they have in common and their relationship is better than ever. Aisling Burke, Life coach, Mark Fennell and other listeners joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live to share their experiences...

The provision of housing for native Irish speakers in the Gaeltacht is “one of the greatest threats” to Irish language survival in Gaeltacht areas. That’s according to the regional authority responsible for the development of the countries Gaeltacht regions. Údaras na Gaeltachta say young people are being forced out of the area because of poor planning regulation. Irish Musician, Breanndán Begly, Donegal Councillor, Micheál Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig, Dr Aoife Granville, Gaeltacht native and Marie in Cork, all joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live to discuss...

Last night the Wexford GAA chair Micheál Martin invited the county’s referees to a meeting to discuss the recent violence. He joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live alongside Brian, a listener in Carlow to discuss the future of how those who abuse referees are disciplined...

Andrea was joined by Gayle, a listener in Dublin and Rachel Morrogh, Irish Cancer Society Director of Advocacy, to discuss the announcements from yesterday's Budget...

Maynooth University have announced that construction on their new student centre, which was due to be completed next year, has been terminated. The project was being funded through an annual student levy of €150, which the University have been taking since 2015. Many students and former students are using the hashtag #WheresMyLevy online to voice their anger that their student levy payments have, seemingly, come to nothing. Andrea was joined by Maynooth Students’ Union President Niall Daly, Aoife, a final year student and former students Aedraen and Fintan to discuss...