Highlights From Lunchtime Live

Energy companies have been slammed for increasing their standing charges by as much as €300. In some cases, customers will now have to pay as much as €700 a year – and this is all before switching on a light. Andrea was joined by listeners across the country to discuss how the rising costs will affect them...

Halloween used to be the festival of homemade costumes and cheap sweets. But it seems to be slowly becoming more and more commercialised. Are we in danger of ruining it? And turning it into just another commerical holiday? Shane Beatty was joined on Lunchtime Live by Barbara in Dublin, who is a witch, Barry, a pagan from Cork and Eimear McKeon, host of the 'Because You Were Home’ horror podcast to discuss...

Delays, lost bags, big queues and cancelled flights – anyone travelling abroad recently has likely been affected by one issue or another. Has all the glamour gone out of flying? Does all the stress associated with flying abroad actually put you off foreign holidays? Shane Beatty was joined on Lunchtime Live by listeners to discuss their experiences travelling abroad...

Jac Sinnott, a mother of two from Waterford says she is feels like she’s living a half life while trying to be an activist to receive the healthcare she needs. Jac, who was diagnosed with cavernoma on her brain last year, joined Shane Beatty on Lunchtime Live to talk about her condition and the treatment she has received thus far...

Every week, we give you the chance to #AskTheExpert. This week, we put your questions to Colin Baker, from Back from the Future about tech for your commute...

Taxi drivers in Dublin are saying that the city is getting violent, and as a result some of them are too concerned to take night shifts. Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by Jim Waldron, Spokesperson with the National Private Hire and Taxi Association and Paul, a taxi driver in Dublin to discuss this and the ongoing taxi shortages...

A restaurant in the UK has added carbon emissions to its menu so customers can see the environmental costs each meal has. ‘The Canteen’, in Bristol, say they want to help their customers stay informed about the global impact of their food choices by listing the carbon footprint of every dish alongside its ingredients and price. Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by listeners, Tony Keogh, head chef with Cornucopia restaurant in Dublin and Trudie Power, Chairperson of the Wexford Food Family and CEO of Trudies Kitchen to discuss bringing this in here in Ireland...

Some 700 GPs are due to retire in the next six years, according to the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP). At least 2,000 new GPs will be needed within the next seven years to meet existing demand. Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by listeners affected by GP shortages. Dr Aideen Brides, a GP in Monaghan town also joined the programme to discuss...

Those attending Comedian Dave Chappelle at the 3Arena tonight won’t have access to their phones. At Dave Chappelle's gigs you will be asked to silence your phone, it will then be put in a secure pouch which you can take with you but you won’t be able to open. Andrea was joined by listeners to hear their views on the policy of no phones at comedy gigs and concerts..

The National Infertility Support and Information Group (NISIG) for funding for IVF and other fertility treatments is asking to be included in the upcoming budget. At the moment, Ireland is the only state in the EU not to fund IVF. Andrea was joined by listeners who have gone through IVF and heard their experiences about the process and the cost...

All this week on Newstalk, we are hearing from people about their commutes to and from work as part of #MyCommuteNT. Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by listeners to hear about what mode of transport they us, how long it takes and how much it costs...

Is it time to update the sexual education in schools? Do we need to talk more about things like LGBTQ families and STIs? SpunOut, the organisation providing online youth information, are saying it needs to change. Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by Alex, a student who has just graduated from secondary school, Mike Edgar from SpunOut and Gemma Lawlor an RSE teacher at Tyndall College, Carlow to discuss...

Katherine, a listener in Portlaw, Co Waterford, got in touch with Lunchtime Live after the local bus service in her village was scrapped. Katherine and Daphne in Portlaw joined Andrea alongside Brian Lynch, Owner of Suirway Bus Company to discuss. Listeners also got in touch around the country about possible alternatives for rural public transport...

Sleeping separately from your partner – is it something you’re for or against? Experts have urged couples not to share the same bed if they want to improve their quality of sleep. Andrea was joined on the show by journalist, Chrissie Russell and listeners to discuss...

Country music star, Garth Brooks took to the stage in Croke Park at the weekend for three of his five headline gigs in Ireland. Andrea, who went to all three nights, was joined by listeners and fans across the country to chat about their experience...

A Government-appointed commission on taxation has recommended that there should be a substantial reduction in the amount of money that parents can leave to their children tax free. At the moment a child can inherit €335,000 from their parents before they have to pay tax at 33% - could this be something that should be reduced? Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by Rosemary McDonagh, IFA Farm business Committee, Eddie Punch, General Secretary of The Irish Cattle & Sheep Farmers' Association and listeners to discuss how inheritance tax might affect them...

Aidan, a listener, emailed the show to talk about his annoyance over people’s behaviour on public transport. Listening to music without headphones, eating and leaving rubbish on them. He wants something to be done about it. Andrea was also joined on Lunchtime Live by Green Party Councillor, Michael Pidgeon and other listeners to discuss...

A school in the UK has reportedly banned skirts and brought in a “trousers only” rule for pupils which has caused anger among parents. Haywood Academy, in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent has banned all pupils in the school from wearing skirts as it reopened for the new academic year. Andrea was joined by Siobhan O'Neill White of Mams.ie, Barbara Ennis, Principal of Alexandra College in Dublin and other listeners to discuss...

The one and only Garth Brooks is set to play Croke Park tonight, tomorrow night, Sunday night and next Friday and Saturday. It’s expected over 400,000 country fans will descend on the GAA grounds which astonishingly equates to almost 8% of the population. Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by singer Michael English, Declan Manton and other listeners who are going to the shows...

Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by listeners who are having issues booking bus and train tickets online with their free travel pass...