Highlights From Lunchtime Live

Employees at an Iceland store in north Dublin arrived at work this morning only to find that there store had been closed. A large crowd has now gathered outside the store, and three employees have occupied the premises. Jeannette, employee and shop steward for Iceland joined Andrea from inside the store...

Should landlords be allowed set rules for what you do in your rented apartment? A landlord in New York set tongues wagging after posting an advert for an apartment which said that there was only one house rule - “no meat/fish in the building.” Meat eaters were not banned but the cooking of meat and fish was. Is this fair? Should landlords be allowed have rules like this? Andrea was joined by Catherine Woods, Vegan and an Animal Rights Activist, Hugh, an estate agent and landlord and more to discuss...

Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by Irish Independent Journalist Kirsty Blake Knox to discuss coping with pet grief, after her dog passed away at the age of 11...

Taylor Swift has announced back-to-back concerts in the Aviva Stadium on 28th and 29th June next year. However, any Swifties who live outside of Dublin could find the price of the ticket is the cheapest thing about the event; to stay in a triple deluxe room on Harcourt Street’s Iveagh Garden Hotel will cost €999 on 29th June next year. Andrea Gilligan was joined on Lunchtime Live by listeners and those in the hotel industry to discuss…

A psychologist in the US thinks our love of all things crime might actually be a bad thing. Dr Thema Bryant appeared on The Mel Robbins Podcast to say it can be a bit of a red flag if you find it relaxing to hear about horrific murders and crime. Is our love of true crime something we need to be worried about? Andrea was joined by Jess Kelly, Newstalk’s Tech Correspondent, Frank Greany, Host of Inside the Crime and Newstalk’s Court’s Reporter, Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College, Brendan Kelly, Darren Cleary, Managing Editor, Digital Audio at Bauer Media and more to discuss…

Should there be restrictions on songs that can be played at funerals? Or should you be allowed do what you want? According to research by UK funeral directors, hymns are on the way back in, with their revival being credit to the Queens funeral. Some of the non-secular songs making the list included the classic 'Time to Say Goodbye' and also 'You’ll Never Walk Alone' by Gerry and The Pacemakers. To discuss the rules and restrictions around funeral songs, Andrea was joined by Brid McGowan from Foley & McGowans Funeral home in Sligo and McGowan’s Funeral Directors in Ballina, Celebrant Gareth Matthews and singer Liam Fitz....

Do young people these days lack the resilience to deal with life’s difficulties? Following on from a negative reaction to some Leaving Cert exams Mick Clifford, writing in the Examiner, wondered if 'Today's youth have been conditioned to inflate every disappointment into a trauma.' Talking to Newstalk earlier today, Mick Clifford argued that a large portion of the "overreaction" from young people comes from the "conditioning" of their parents and a lack of “resilience.” Have we conditioned our children to not have any resilience nowadays? Andrea was joined by listeners to discuss…

Playschools and Montessoris are no longer giving out sweet treats to children in moderation, and have descended into a "free for all." Andrea Gilligan was joined by parents and other listeners to discuss...

Is it hard to be pro-aging in the world of botox? Emer Lysaght wrote a piece in the Irish Times which explained she resents her friends for getting botox and resent them for making her look worse! Are you the odd one out in your friend group? Have they all got Botox and left you behind? Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by Sarina Bellissimo, host of The Bellissimo Files Podcast, Stylist Marietta Dolan and listeners to discuss...

President Higgins has been criticised for speaking out on the topic of Ireland’s neutrality. In an interview with the Business Post, Michael D Higgins said the country is "playing with fire" during a dangerous period of 'drift' in foreign policy - and should avoid 'burying itself in other people's agenda's. Has the President overstepped his role by talking about Government policy? Andrea was joined by listeners to discuss..

The town of Drogheda, in Co Louth has declared a war on seagulls. A public meeting has been called to find a solution to the seagulls that are causing havoc all over the town. What is the solution to aggressive seagulls? Andrea was joined by Frank Godfrey, Louth Councillor Michelle Hall, Wildlife expert and author Éanna Ní Lamhna and others to discuss...

It’s Fathers Day on Sunday! The role of the father has changed a lot in modern times, We want to know what you have learned most since becoming a father. Andrea was joined by Jamie and Dave of 'From Lads to Dads' and Seamus from 'Irish Gay Dads' to discuss...

Primary schools have warned parents that a growing trend towards taking pupils out of school for holidays is disrupting children’s education and may trigger notifications to social services. New figures compiled by Tusla show the estimated number of such extended absences due to holidays jumped from 60,000-65,000 in 2019 to 350,000 in 2021. What do you make of parents taking children out during term for a holiday? Andrea was joined by listeners to discuss...

Did you feel comfortable taking maternity leave? Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has said that she is sure 'some people didn't approve' of her taking maternity leave for a second time. Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by Clontarf Councillor Catherine Stocker, Dr Niamh Flanagan, Assistant Professor of Social Policy in the Department if Applied Social Studies, Maynooth University, Siobhan O’Neill White founder of Mams.ie and Labour Party South Dublin County Councillor Joanna Tuffy...

The Leaving Cert is in full swing but should teachers be able to achieve a H1, the highest grade, in the subject that they teach? Andrea was joined by Jonathan Walker, Principal of Ringsend College, Derval, a secondary school and Graham to discuss...

Fine Gael TD Neale Richmond has warned the public to be vigilant after a group of climate change activists deflated car tyres in the Churchtown area of Dublin Dozens of cars were found with all four tyres flat yesterday morning with an accompanying note, that explained: ‘We have deflated one or more of your tyres...We did this because driving around urban areas in your massive vehicle has huge consequences for others.' Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by listeners to discuss... Image: Twitter via @nealerichmond

Aslan front man and Irish music ledgend, Christy Dignam, passed away yesterday evening aged 63. His death is a massive loss to the country. I am joined now on the line by fans of Christy’s...

Harry Styles lit up Slane Castle over the weekend, but since the big night, Lunchtime Live has received a number of emails from listeners talking about their experience of buying ‘platinum tickets’. Andrea was joined by Sharon and presenter of The Home Show on Newstalk, Sinead Ryan to discuss...

Five independent Senators say they want to allow the State to award citizens in recognition of exceptional achievement. The proposed system, known as Gradam an Uachtaráin, would comprise of a medal to be worn on special occasions, a lapel button and an entitlement to use the letters ‘GU’ after their name – similar to being ‘knighted in the UK’. The idea is being debated in the Seanad today. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said that the Government would be “reluctant” to introduce it here. Andrea was joined by Senator Gerard Craughwell and listeners to discuss...

A new Oireachtas committee, formed to consider the issue of assisted dying, has held it's first public meeting this morning. Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by Denise, Michael, Noel and others to discuss...