Highlights From Lunchtime Live

The redevelopment of Dublin’s Victorian fruit and vegetable market is finally happening - to the tune of €26 million.Work will start in June, and will take about two years to finish.By the time it’s done, the plan is to have new shops and restaurants with at least 80 stalls inside.So, what needs to happen?To discuss, Andrea is joined by Food Writer and Editor of Scoop magazine Dee Laffan, Chef and owner of Wildflower restaurant in Blackrock Market Adrian Martin, Green Party Councillor for the North Inner City Janet Horner, Joseph Duffy, fourth generation florist who used to work in the market and Tom Durcan from Durcan Meats in Cork's English Market.

Dr Sumi Dunne, GP in Laois, joined Andrea Gilligan to tackle your medical queries…

Parental separation and marital breakdown can be an extremely challenging time for children…A new book called ‘It's Not Fair’ helps kids to adjust when mum and dad separate.Deirdre McCarthy, a Social Worker and Lecturer in Trauma-Informed Care at University College Cork and author of ‘It’s Not Fair – Parental Separation Hurts’ joins Andrea to discuss.

Over €54 million worth of plastic bottles and cans have gone unclaimed in a year…So, why are some people refusing to buy into the Deposit Return Scheme?Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

The costs associated with weddings can be great, so any financial reprieve for the bridal party would be nice; but would you have your bridesmaids get their dresses from a supermarket?A budget range of bridesmaid gowns are becoming available in ASDA in the UK, can a certain stylish quality be upheld with a cheaper option? Or, is dress rental a sounder financial choice?To discuss, Andrea is joined by Newstalk’s Helena O’Toole, Stylist Laura Mullet and Sarah Kennedy from ‘The Aisle’ blog and Wedding Expert.

This is Lunchtime Live’s Big Batch. Every Monday we’ll be learning new easy to cook batch recipes to keep you eating well. No more staring into an open fridge looking for inspiration!This week, Andrea is joined by Chef and Director of Conbini Condiments, Holly Dalton to learn about her recipes for overnight oats, granola and dumplings!Follow the hashtag #LLBigBatch for all our recipes.

Canadians travelling to Ireland have been given a warning by their government that if they’re arriving here to forge a romance that they struck up online, they may in fact be the victim of a scam…Other travel advice such as to avoid showing signs of affluence or wearing expensive jewellery as well as carrying large sums of cash as pickpockets may be targeting tourists.Is Ireland particularly unsafe for tourists, or is this just general advice for all tourists?On top of this, the Irish Hotel Federation have stated that they are €100 million down for bookings year-on-year. So: has Ireland become unappealing to tourists?Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

For this week’s Ask Me Anything, Professor Ciaran Bolger, Consultant Neurosurgeon with Beaumont Hospital joins Andrea to answer any of your brain surgery questions!

For people who can’t sleep, you’ll try anything…There are tons of new “trends” to try, all under the name of ‘sleepmaxxing’.But, what is it, and do any of them work?Dr. Neil Stanley, co-author of ‘A Sleep Divorce: How to Sleep Apart, Not Fall Apart’ joins Andrea to discuss.

Labour TD Eoghan Kenny has questioned the changes to leaving cert claiming that continuous assessment projects disproportionately favour children from affluent families.Andrea is joined by Labour TD and Party Spokesperson for Education, Eoghan Kenny, Michael Gillespie, General Secretary of Teachers Union of Ireland, Jennifer Horgan, Teacher and Columnist and Eric Nelligan, Teacher and member of Aontú to discuss.

Pets are very much part of the family, but how much are you willing to spend on your furry friend?From private jets and salon treatments to dog yoga and luxury hotel stays, Ireland’s luxury pet industry is booming.Andrea is joined by Laoise Downes, owner of Outpaws and Wedding Woofs, a bespoke dog service, Adam Golder, founder of K9 Jets and more to explore the lengths people can go to.

From an Irish paramedic saving lives abroad to a dog eating teddy bears, Breakfast Briefing Presenter Shane Beatty joins Andrea with plenty of stories from around the country this week!

Thousands of families are living in rental properties that are too cold, and too damp.According to a new report today, hundreds of thousands of rented homes have poor energy ratings - meaning people are living in cold homes.So, should landlords be forced to do something about it?Andrea is joined by Paul Murphy, People Before Profit TD for Dublin South West Peter Finn, AKA Pete the Builder as well as listeners to discuss.

If you have noisy neighbours or live by a busy road, you’ll want to listen to this…The Home Squad are here to talk about all things soundproofing!Andrea is joined by Jenny Sheehan, Irish Examiner Columnist and former ‘Home of the Year’ winner and Róisín Lafferty, Founder and Creative Director of Róisín Lafferty, to discuss.

On the show yesterday, Shane Gleeson was discussing how the five Spar shops he owns around Limerick City are being hit again and again by shoplifters…So, how big of a problem is crime in the retail sector?To discuss, Andrea is joined by Shane’s brother Michael Gleeson, Eric Matthews, owner of Kicky’s Restaurant on South Great George’s Street in Dublin and Frayank Nunez, owner of 'It’s A Trap’ micro-bakery and coffee shop on Aungier Street in Dublin…

Senator Anne Rabbitte was first elected to the Dáil in 2016 when she was elected in Galway East, and has served in public office ever since.Anne recently lost her seat in the Dáil, but has since been appointed to the Seanad by Taoiseach Michéal Martin.Anne joins Andrea to discuss.

Every Thursday on Lunchtime Live, Andrea will be joined by followers of different religions in Ireland to learn more about them.This week, Andrea is joined by Nick Park to learn about the Evangelical Christians.

For this week’s Throwback Thursday, Rebecca Shekleton, Presenter on 98fm’s Big Breakfast joins Andrea to look back on the year 2000!

2.1 billion euro has been collected in tolls on Irish roads since 2008…The Newstalk exclusive found that the port tunnel alone collected €32 million in 2024, up from €28.8m the previous year.So, are we paying too much in toll charges?Andrea is joined by listeners, including Shane O’Donoghue, Editor with Completecar.ie.

Breast reduction is fast becoming one of the most sought-after plastic surgery procedures in Ireland.But, just how safe is it, and what is involved?For this week’s Ask the Expert, Andrea is joined by Éilís Fitzgerald - Consultant Plastic Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgeon at Beacon Hospital to answer any of your questions!