Highlights From Lunchtime Live

Do Irish Stereotypes bother you? Saturday Night Live came under fire after their Oscars skit which showed impressions of Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson and included jokes about the Irish accent and alcoholism. It has annoyed many people – but does it bother you? Andrea was joined by listeners to discuss… Image: Saturday Night Live

Jill, a listener, got in touch with Lunchtime Live about her son's experience at his first confession as part of his preparation for his First Holy Communion. Jill says she was horrified by some of the language used in the ceremony of Examination Of Conscience. Jill, Tom, Ger, and Fr Paddy Byrne, parish priest of Abbeyleix, Ballinakill and Raheen in Co Laois all joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live to discuss...

A new Garda station is to open on Dublin’s O’Connell Street today. Will this curb antisocial behaviour and possibly improve the atmosphere in the area? Andrea was joined by Labour Party Senator Marie Sherlock, Noel Kelly, Manager of McDowells Jewellers on O'Connell Street and Rosemary to discuss...

Head of transport at the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland Declan Meally has said you shouldn’t be too concerned about the lack of charging points for EVs across the country as “most of your charging should be done at home”. How practical is this advice? Is the infrastructure there in Ireland to drive an electric car? Andrea was joined by listeners to discuss…

Over a thousand younger people are being cared for in nursing home because adequate housing and care hasn’t been provided for them elsewhere. There are currently nearly 1,350 people under the age of 65 being cared for in Ireland’s nursing homes, according to Freedom of Information figures released to Newstalk. While some of these residents have a disability, others have conditions that affect their ability to live independently. The HSE said nursing homes are only used for younger people where no other alternatives are available. Andrea was joined by Pauline, Brendan and Reinhard to discuss their adult children’s situations…

There are two international football games coming up in March, as well as our final home Six Nations tie against England - all these games will take place in the Aviva Stadium. It begs the question, in the future should we look to spread international fixtures around the country? Would there be any benefits to moving them? Andrea was joined by Sinéad O’Keeffe, Commercial Director with Pairc Ui Chaoimh in Cork, Joey Malone, Assistant Manager with Shelbourne Woman’s National League Team and other listeners to discuss…

Shannen O’Flaherty is 26 and living with Friedeich's Ataxia. It’s a rare inherited disease which causes damage to your nervous system and movement problems. It also means Shannen needs to use a wheelchair. But unfortunately, she’s been given the wrong wheelchair, which means she’s in pain every day. So now she’s fundraising for her own.

In a statement yesterday, President Michael D Higgins said that schools should provide “basic information regarding sexuality in the fullest sense”. It comes amid plans for a new sex education curriculum being formulated, and discussions around the teaching of transgender issues in Irish schools. What do you think? What should or shouldn’t be included in the new sex education course? Andrea was joined by Hannah Solley, Family support and education office with TENI, Dara McGann, a transgender woman in Cork and other listeners to discuss…

Life can be more colourful for some – especially if you experience synaesthesia, a neurological condition – where people have a kind of a cross-wiring of the senses. Journalist and Editor Aisling Keenan joined Andrea to tell her about her experience of the condition...

In January, Andrea spoke to Caroline Phelan about her brother Bernard, who was on hunger strike in Iran. He was protesting because he believes he’s being held there as a political pawn and denies all the charges the Iranians have held against him.  Gregory O’Corry-Crowe, Bernard’s first cousin is in Dublin today for a press conference at Buswells Hotel and he joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live…

Should flat faced dogs be banned from crufts? The RSPCA are calling for an end to breeds like Pugs, French Bulldogs and British bulldogs competing at the annual dog show – they fear that it’s making the breeds more popular, and with so many of these suffering from breathing issues – they say it’s a serious concern. Andrea was joined by Gerry Boland, Animal Rights Campaigner, Founder and Spokesperson of Animals Behind Closed Doors, Sean Deimer, Member of health and wellbeing committee of the Irish kennel club and international judge and other listeners to discuss…

To celebrate International Women’s Day, Andrea was joined by some women who work in male-dominated jobs and how they have overcome the struggles faced in such industries. Caitríona Bergin, head of Women in Construction and Quarrying Ireland, Dearbhla Keane, founder of SheConstructs and member of women’s construction and quarrying Ireland and Hannah Kelly, general manager of production on an oyster farm, all joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live…

A proposal has been put forward to completely redesign Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre. Dublin City Council have put forward some objections, saying they have serious concerns. But most of the outcry seems to have come from the public, with people saying we’re ruining the character of the building, and ruining the personalities of our cities. Are we in danger of riping everything with character down and making our cities totally generic? Andrea was joined by Dublin City Councillor, Mannix Flynn, Dermot O’Grady, The Green Gallery in Stephen’s Green, Gwen Leyden, Landlord of Georges Street Arcade and listeners to discuss… Image: Leonard Design Architects

It’s been revealed today that the state paid over €100 million last year on the salaries of teachers in private schools. According to figures released to Newstalk, the bill for two schools in Dublin was over €4 million. The total cost for the 2021-2022 school year was €104.3 million. Should the state be paying the salaries of teachers in fee paying schools? Andrea was joined by listeners to discuss…

Tracey, a listener, got in touch with Lunchtime Live about an incident in which she left her car parked in a taxi rank because she thought she was in labour. She was subsequently fined and appealed her ticket. She joined Andrea to discuss the attitudes towards pregnant women in Ireland...

Should we introduce free public transport in Ireland? AA Ireland are calling upon the Government to introduce free public transport, however Green Party leader Eamon Ryan says that it would 'increase level of unnecessary trips'. Andrea was joined by Green Party Councillor Janet Horner, Feljin Jose, Chairperson of the Dublin Commuter Coalition and other listeners to discuss…

An auction is taking place this weekend in Bray which will see Nazi themed memorabilia such as a statue of Hitler being sold off. Oliver Sears, son of a holocaust survivor and founder of Holocaust Awareness Ireland joined Andrea to discuss…

A judge in Cork District Court says people “acting the maggot” with hospital staff should go to prison. According to the Irish Nursing and Midwives Organisation there were 5,593 reported assaults against nursing and midwifery staff between January 2021 and October 2022. Andrea was joined by Dr Mick Molloy, consultant in emergency medicine in Wexford and member of the IMO consultant committee, Orla a nurse in Wicklow, Mark a student nurse and others to discuss…

Government party leaders are set to meet today to discuss the possible extension of the eviction ban. Landlords are now saying they may leave the market if it stays, because it’s not worth it for them anymore to keep renting out their properties. Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by landlords Richard, Michelle, William, Mark and Hugh to discuss…

Residents concerned about gorse fires around the Cork and Kerry area spoke to Andrea on the show today.