Highlights From Lunchtime Live

Listener Stacey got in touch with the show with a massive issue she is facing. Her daughter’s specialist chair has snapped, and is currently held together with glue while they have been waiting for a seating assessment since March of 2024…Stacey joins Andrea to discuss more.

The only thing everyone seems to be talking about is Traitors Ireland, and before you listen to this podcast, there will be spoilers! So, if you haven’t seen it, now is the time…From betrayal, to laughs to the glamour and style from Siobhán McSweeney, we just cannot seem to get enough of it!But, why do we love it so much?Joining Andrea to discuss is Sophie Byrne, Showbiz Correspondent for Goss.ie, Mikie O’Loughlin, Showbiz Correspondent at RSVP, Broadcaster Mairead Ronan and more!

Artists are waiting to see if they will be eligible for Basic Income for the Arts scheme in 2026. The scheme offers €325 a week to 2,000 people in the arts in Ireland...The pilot project, which was first launched in 2022, will help to keep artists in employment and avoid some of Ireland's top performers from leaving the industry in pursuit of other careers.With the 2026 budget talks currently ongoing. Many artists await to see whether this scheme will continue and what will unfold if it doesn’t.Joining Andrea to discuss this is Business Development Manager for audio-visual, creative and cultural sectors Willie White, Harpist from Dundalk Rosie Murphy and Labour TD and Spokesperson on Arts, Rob O’Donoghue.

It’s How I Live Well time! Where someone joins to discuss what they do to improve their life…This week, Andrea is joined by Grainne O’ Driscoll from Grá for Fitness in Tramore to discuss yoga and pilates!

Tánaiste Simon Harris spoke with Newstalk Breakfast this morning on how he is dealing with threats towards his family. It comes after three bomb threats were made to the Fine Gael leader’s home over the weekend…Despite the ongoing threats towards his family, Harris is still showing up to work and is “trying his best to get on with his job”.Is this harassment and abuse completely out of line, or are public figures always at risk of threats?Joining Andrea to discuss is Martin Kenny Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson & TD for Sligo/Leitrim, Mick Clifford Special Correspondent with The Irish Examiner, Stephen Breen, Crime Editor with The Irish Sun,Journalist Aoife Grace Moore, Social Media Content Creator Charlene Murphy and Fine Gael TD Barry Ward.

Dr Nina Byrnes, GP at Generation Health Medical Clinic joined Andrea Gilligan to tackle your medical queries…

Comedian Claire Roche got in touch with the show after she received an advertisement on Instagram for an AI girlfriend. The ad says, “AI girlfriend with no limit, tell me what you really want sir”...Claire believes the algorithm on her phone may have thought she was a man from hearing her husband's voice around the house, and as a result she received this ad.Should AI be allowed to promote such content and does it incite violence against women? What are your thoughts?Andrea is joined by Claire, as well as Dean McDonald, Lecturer in Cyberpsychology, to discuss.

Housing targets are to be missed every year for the next five years, officials have warned.The Department of Housing claims that by 2028, output will fall below current levels of 32,000.This is despite the target being an average of 50,500 homes to be delivered per year.So, is there any hope for young people to buy a house in Ireland?Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

More and more people have been house and pet sitting to avoid high rent prices across Ireland.There has been a steady increase in people opting for this since 2022, and so far in 2025, more than 7,000 house and pet sits globally have been for longer than 29 days.Joining Andrea to discuss this is Aoife CodyKane, a Freelance Journalist who has been housesitting for almost a year. Also joining to discuss is Aleksandra Schmidt, Creative Director and Photographer and Suzi Walsh, Pet Behavior Expert.

A small black pouch, containing a mirror, razor blade, snorting tube, vial and metal spoon can be bought on Talbot Street in Dublin to help people to take cocaine.The ‘snuff kit’ which costs 18 euro is one of the many drugs paraphernalia that can be bought in store.With products like this being so widely accessible across the city center, it is no surprise that drug use is on the rise and why we see so many people taking these drugs in open spaces.Should paraphernalia like this be banned, and do we need to clamp down on drug use in general across the country?Joining Andrea to discuss is Chrisy, former drug squad officer, as well as listeners.

Welcome to The Pod Squad!We review podcasts every week so you always have something new to listen to.Newstalk’s Ellen Butler and Rory Galvin join Andrea Gilligan to review ‘Sea of Lies’!Image: CBC

For this week’s Ask Me Anything, Franks Greaney, Newstalk's Court Correspondent and host of ‘Inside the Crime’ joins Andrea to answer any of your court coverage questions!

Ronan Keating has revealed Boyzone will “try” to reunite in 2026.Speaking on BBC Radio 2, Ronan Keating says the bandmates have all been chatting over the last few weeks, and  2026 might be a year for Boyzone to "maybe try and do something…"So, do you want to see the group get back together?Andrea is joined by Mikie O’Loughlin, RSVP Magazine Showbiz Editor and Showbiz Editor for the Sunday World Eddie Rowley to discuss.

Dr Asif Iqbal, a Pakistani Doctor, was attacked on his way to his shift in the Emergency Department - being told to “go back home”...He joins Andrea to discuss what happened.

Are you one of those really early risers?The smug ones doing yoga on a green somewhere at half 5 in the morning?What possesses you?Joining Andrea to discuss is Greg Walsh, Yoga Instructor with Temple Bar Yoga, Sports and Exercise Scientist from Mulligainz Fitness, Oisin Mulligan and listeners.

From GAA club bottle collecting to a festival for hot air ballooning, Breakfast Briefing Presenter Shane Beatty joins Andrea Gilligan with plenty of stories from around the country this week!

Minister Patrick O’Donovan has called for the VAT not to be cut to 9% in the 2026 Budget for hotels. It comes after he said, “hotels are robbing people up to the eyeballs”.With concerts as big as Taylor Swift and Oasis bringing fans in their drones, hotels are being accused of price gouging.Do you agree with the Minister? Should hotels be entitled to a VAT cut?Joining Andrea to discuss is Director of Skylon Hotel in Dublin, Michael Lennon, Owner of the Lansdowne Hotel in Kenmare, Aeleen Hanley as well as listeners.

How do you choose colour in your home? When do you go bold, how does colour impact a space and everything in between?Well, the Home Squad are here to talk about picking the right colour for you!Joining guest host Mairead Ronan to discuss is Róisín Lafferty, Founder & Creative Director of Róisín Lafferty Design House and Sarah Carroll (@sand.and.deliver on Instagram).

Listener Catherine got in touch with the show to share her experience of the M50, where she says that dangerous and reckless driving is now a daily sight…So, is enforcement slipping — or is it just our perception? How big of a problem is dangerous driving?Catherine joins, as well as Shane O’ Donoghue, Editor of CompleteCar.ie, guest host Mairead Ronan to discuss.

Suicide is the highest cause of death for young people in Europe.It has increased in women under 20, though men are more than 3 times more likely to die by suicide than women…So what’s causing it? And what can we do to help more?Joining guest host Mairead Ronan to discuss is Dr Patricia Byrne, Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Chris Sherlock, Author, Mental Health Advocate and Antibullying Campaigner and listener Millie.If any of these issues have affected you, you can phone the Samaritans on 116 123.