Highlights From Lunchtime Live

A new hangover prevention pill has gone on sale in the UK. Physicist, engineer and science communicator Phil Smyth joined Andrea to discuss the science of hangovers.

Andrea spoke to listeners about the high cost of hotel prices and if they are due to an issue of supply and demand or price gouging.

Over 300 Deis schools with around 60,000 students in disadvantaged areas will not have access to school meals when they reopen in September. Andrea spoke to Julie Ahern, Head of legal policy and services with the Children’s Rights Alliance and principles about what this will mean for schools and students.

Following news that Ireland’s defence forces may be drawn upon to help with airport security amidst chronic delays and cancellations, many have voiced their concerns at the potential knock-on effects. Retired Regiment Sargeant Major Noel O’Callaghan, joined Aideen and Former Army Ranger, now Independent TD, Cathal Berry, to discuss their concerns.

The shortage of priests in Ireland has led to suggestions that lay people may be called on to do funerals. Father Iggy O’Donovan joined funeral celebrant Liza Clancy to discuss if shared funerals could be a way of addressing the issue.

After a difficult few years for the hospitality industry things are slowly returning back to normal. As part of TV show ‘At your service’ Hotelier Frances Brennan has been helping businesses to try navigate this tricky time, he joined Aideen to discuss the show.

Paul Morland, Demographer at St Antony’s College, Oxford, and the author of Tomorrow’s People: The Future of Humanity in Ten Numbers, has said taxing those who do not have children should be taxed at a higher rate to encourage them to start families. Aideen was joined by listeners to debate if this was a fair way to encourage people to have children.

The 1st of July- the kids are all finished school – summer holidays start in earnest! Today, we’re kicking off our Summer Memories series, where we chat to some well-known faces and reminisce over those long summer days! Comedian Neil Delamere kicked off the series by joining Andrea on the show.

Gerry Murphy from Met Eireann joined Andrea Gilligan on the show to discuss what lies in store for the weekend.

Flight cancellations are continuing to affect customers across the country with more Aer Lingus flights out of Dublin Airport to European destinations canceled today. The airline says it’s due to illness and strike action.

With the first in a number of Joint Oireachtas Committees on Autism underway, this week calls around representation for neurodivergent people in Ireland are to the fore. A strong advocate in this area is filmmaker Caoilinn Handley. Caoilinn first sought a diagnosis for dyspraxia after she related to a character on TV, and this has led her to explore her autism in recent years. To showcase the importance of better pathways for autistic people in Irish society, Caoilinn most recently auditioned for the Rose of Tralee. To tell us about that, and her wider story, Caoilinn joined Andrea Gilligan on the show.

Does our understanding around grammar, syntax, or phrasing in general leave a lot to be desired? Sarah in Thurles got in touch with the show to bemoan the decline of society in this area, and she spoke to Andrea this afternoon

Well, have you ever been charged for water while out and about? Are venues allowed not to serve you tap water? Would it put you off a venue if they charge for tap water? And, what about bars and restaurants? Are they allowed to charge for water? Aaron got in touch with Andrea on the issue.

Newstalk has teamed up with Ronseal for Fix it Fortnight ,two weeks of top DIY tips from the best experts in the field. It’s the perfect time to freshen up the house. Andrea was joined by Arlene McIntyre from Ventura, to answer your interior design questions.  It’s all with thanks to Ronseal. For more see Ronseal.com.

Irish Rail announced that 41 new trains were in transit and heading for Ireland but disability activists say that they’ve been forgotten about as the trains are no more accessible than the current ones.Andrea was joined by listeners Sean,Veron and Jane Cregan from Irish Rail to discuss the accessibility of the Irish rail service.

Technology has made our lives so much more convenient but in the process of simplifying everyday tasks, Hilda Roche, National President of the ICA ,and Noel Cunningham, TV Personality and Author of Guide to Modern Irish Manners, joined Andrea to discuss if we lost our life skills.

Ewan McGregor has made a rare public comment about the breakdown of his first marriage and the impact the split has had on all of the relationships in his life. Andre was joined by life Coach Mark Fennell discuss the impact of divorce on those directly and indirectly involved.

Vaping has traditionally been seen as a “safer” alternative to smoking and is increasingly popular with teenagers. Andrea spoke to Dr Brendan O’Shea, GP in Co Kildare and listeners, to discuss if vaping could pose health risks to those who use them and encourage younger age groups to become nicotine dependent.

Paul Maher from University of Limerick has studied the science behind nostalgia, and he joined Andrea to explain why we love things that make us reminisce on past times or experiences.

Tenants who need to work from home are being refused by some landlords advertising rental properties. Andrea spoke to Amy Molly, Public Affairs Correspondent with Independent News & Media, who has been speaking to renters and landlords about some of the issues that arise with remote working in a rental property.