Highlights From Lunchtime Live

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...

After the passing of Queen Elizabeth II yesterday, tributes are being paid around the world. Andrea was joined by listeners to recount their memories of meeting the monarch...

John Lowe, The Money Doctor, joined Andrea for this week's 'Ask The Expert' slot to answer listeners questions about mortgages...

Are you having difficulty getting swimming lessons for your child? Annette, a listener, joined Andrea on the show to chat about how hard it is to get swimming lessons for their children. Andrea was also joined on the show by Patrick and Carol who both teach swimming lessons and George Robinson, Group Marketing Manager of Aura Leisure...

Christy, a listener, in Letterkenny got in touch with the programme over a concern he has around some tickets he bought on the website Viagogo. Christy and Newstalk's Technology Correspondent Jess Kelly joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live to discuss ticket touts and reselling above face value...

What is the cost of learning to drive? In Ireland, you have to take the driver theory test, take an eye test, pay for a learners permit, get driving lessons and then take the test itself. And lets hope you pass that on the first time around, cause it can be expensive. And then you’ve to pay for your actual driver’s licence. Why is it so expensive? Andrea was joined by listeners to discuss...

Officials from the National Parks and Wildlife Service have raised concerns at Dublin Zoo following their most recent inspection. They found medicines with no expiry dates, animals from social species being housed alone, an unclean water trough and inadequate ventilation. Is it time that we closed down zoos? Or are they important for education and animal conservation? Clare McKenna was joined on Lunchtime Live by listeners to discuss...

As the school run starts back and more of us are going into the office, there’s calls for more to be done to make cycling safer in Ireland. In rural parts of the country for example, there’s often no cycle lanes and narrow roads. Clare McKenna was joined by listeners on Lunchtime Live to discuss cycling infrastructure in Ireland...

Once considered solely American practices – baby showers and gender reveal parties are now becoming more and more popular here in Ireland. How do you feel about these practices crossing the Atlantic? Clare McKenna was joined on Lunchtime Live by Chrissy Russell, journalist and mother, Sinead Lyons, from Polkadot events and other listeners to discuss...

Dublin Fire Brigade have posted about rescuing a man in his 70s after he had become trapped in his home for about 14 hours due to hoarding of belongings. Clare McKenna was joined on Lunchtime Live by Fiona Hall, Psychotherapist and owner of Consciously Clearing Decluttering. Listener, Paul also joined the show to discuss his own hoarding habits...

Andrea was joined on the show by Cormac Lally, who is a poet and a spoken word artist but for the last 10 years he has also been working as a wedding speech writer. He counts pro-rugby players, TV pundits and MMA fighters among his clients. Cormac and other listeners gave their tips to writing a good wedding speech.