Highlights From Lunchtime Live

People who fail to control their dogs will face fines up to €5,000 under plans due to go before Cabinet today. Other dog regulation plans include: Having a central database for dog breeders, recruiting 40 extra dog wardens across the country and also creating a central database for dog microchips The move comes after nine-year-old Alejandro Miszan was left with life-altering injuries following a dog attack last November. Andrea Gilligan was joined by listeners to discuss…

Should sports stars be held up as role models? In an interview on Off the Ball last night, Olympic gold medalist Kellie Harrington was questioned about a tweet she posted last October, she refused to answer the question when pressed on it. Andrea Gilligan was joined on Lunchtime Live by Off The Ball's Shane Hannon, Niamh Buffini, an ex Olympic taekwondo coach, Trevor Twamley, co founder of Sport Endorse and many more to discuss...

At the moment in Ireland, around 70 per cent of secondary school students go into Transition Year after their Junior Cert. There has been plenty of talk of the ups and downs of making it compulsory. But what kind of an undertaking would that be for parents? Parents are apparently paying anything in the region of 100 to 900 in registration fees upon entry. This often doesn’t include trips aboard and extra courses that you have to pay for. Andrea was joined by Tracey, Elaine and David to discuss…

Should GAA clubs and counties be allowed to promote charities and causes on their jerseys? There’s been a surprised reaction from many at the move by the GAA to ban the promotion of charities and causes on jerseys in the future. Andrea was joined by Liam Brazzil from Kilrossanty GAA in Waterford, Jimmy Norman from Aoibheann’s Pink Tie, Fergus Finlay, Former CEO of Barnardos and many more to discuss…

A family of eight have been evicted from their Donegal home without any notice or warning. The landlord showed up at their home and changed the locks while the other men packed up their belongings, including baby food and toys, into bin bands and put them outside in the rain. Father of six, Gabriel joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live alongside Sligo-based Fine Gael councillor Sinead Maguire who is helping the family… Image: Supplied

Is it time to get rid of cars in cities? Do issues like noise pollution, air pollution, congestion, lack of green spaces mean that having cars in cities is negatively impacting us all? Una Mullally has a piece in today’s Irish Times that says: ‘Cars have to go. People can fight this all they want, but it has to happen’ What do you think? Andrea was joined by listeners and business owners to discuss…

World Athletics have decided that transgender women will not be allowed to compete in female sports categories. Trans women will be banned if they’ve gone through male puberty. Previously transgender females could compete if they had gone through a period of testosterone suppression. Andrea Gilligan was joined by Saoirse Macken, co-founder of Trans Plus Pride, weightlifter Rehana Maniar, Joanna Harper is a Visiting Fellow for Transgender Athletic perfomance at Loughborough University and transgender athlete and others to discuss..

With the COVID 19 pandemic came the world of work from home. For many this was a huge positive but has it caused the death after-work drinks and liquid lunches? Is drinking culture fading from our work lives? And, is the social side of work going with it? Andrea was joined by listeners to discuss…

Should religion education be removed from schools? Journalist and teacher, Jennifer Horgan has a piece in today’s Irish Examiner asking ‘Are the 'bouncy castle Catholics' hurting our school system?’ The piece details the realities of Catholic ethos schools in Ireland and how it can affect students and teachers who don’t practice the Catholic faith. Should teachers be allowed to opt out of religious teaching? Or should schools be made completely secular? Andrea was joined by journalist and teacher, Jennifer Horgan and listeners Graham, David and more to discuss…

Ireland has gone dog mad in recent years, with ever more restaurants, pubs and even offices catering to furry plus ones. And Irish entrepreneurs who've sniffed out the area are also seeing paws-itive results. Newstalk's Sarah Madden reports with thanks to Square - helping businesses run and grow. See square.com for more.

A Dublin school is worried parents might take their children out of class because of the noise caused by Dublin Airport. Vice Principal of Kilcoskan National School Patricia Finnegan and Breffni Conaty, a parent of students at Kilcoskan National School joined Andrea to discuss…

The overhaul of the State pension system, taking effect in January 2024, will give people the option to continue working until the age of 70. Those that do so will secure a State Pension of €315 per week, compared with the current rate of €265.30 per week. New research from Lockton People Solutions Ireland shows less than one in four people would be willing to do so. Would you be willing to work to 70 if it meant an extra 50 euro a week in your state pension? Andrea was joined by listeners to discuss…

As we head into the busy wedding season and are lucky enough to be invited to a few, you’ll notice the chunk of annual leave that it uses up. Has your annual leave been eaten up by weddings, hens or stags? Do you feel comfortable declining an invite due to the days it takes up? Andrea was joined by listeners to discuss...

Dublin Airport have been given the go-ahead to start charging people for drop offs and pick ups. It’s not something they said they’re looking at rolling out straight away, but there are no guarantees it’s not coming soon. Is it fair to charge for airport drop offs? Andrea was joined by Cathal Crowe, Fianna Fáil TD for Clare and other listeners to discuss… Image: Split-screen image shows Cathal Crowe TD and the entrance to Terminal 1 at Dublin Airport. Picture: Twitter @CathalCroweTD

Speaking about death is never easy, but when you’re facing it head on – there’s no avoiding it. Joe Shannon, a chef from Sligo has unfortunately been given a terminal diagnosis. Joe joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live to discuss coming to terms with his diagnosis... Image: chefjoeshannon.ie

Do you leave restaurant or pub reviews online? Or do you read them and take them as gospel? The Strawberry Hall Pub recently posted online about a bad review they received and the impact something like this can have on business. Andrea was joined by Ciara Cummins from Strawberry Hall Pub in Dublin, Aidan from Duke's Coffee Company Cork, Klara O’Leary from Care Box Collection and Sarah Hanrahan, known as 'I come undone' on Instagram to discuss

Shopkeepers are saying there’s a wave of crime and harassment in their shops at the moment. Some are calling for the right to name and shame known shoplifters, in a bid to stop them. Andrea was joined by Shane Gleeson, who runs five Spar shops in Limerick city, Sheena Mitchell, Pharmacist in Milltown Total Health Pharmacy, Sheila Clarke, who runs Clarke’s XL shop in Ballina and Eddie in Drogheda to discuss…

Divorce is always a hard choice but the process that is barely ever talked about is the impact it has mentally, physically and financially. Andrea Gilligan was joined on the show by John, Andrea and Mandy to discuss...

After a year of imposing a succession of huge price hikes on households and businesses around the country over the last year, the ESB reported a profit of €847m in 2022 – almost 170 million more than the year before. Have you been struggling with bills over the last year? Do you think it is fair that the ESB could have such high profits while so many people find it hard to make payments? Andrea was joined by Social Democrats Councillor for Naas, Bill Clear and other listeners to discuss…

The Government will launch a national action plan to tackle racism today It comes as a report has found that racism is embedded at every level of society and experienced by a variety of groups. What do you think, is Ireland a racist country? Andrea was joined by Toby, Eric, Sam and Cllr Úruemu Adéjinmi, Fianna Fáil Councillor in Longford to discuss… Image: Protesters gather during a Black Lives Matter protest in Eyre Square, Galways - Szymon Barylski/Alamy