Highlights From Lunchtime Live

Every year nurses, teacher and many other professions have to pay a retention fee to stay registered in their profession. With a shortage of healthcare staff in Ireland, what is this fee being put towards? Andrea was joined by nurses, Ciara, Ralph and Caroline...

Motorists are set to be hit again with increased toll prices – some going up by 60 cent per journey. Inflation is blamed on the rising cost. Andrea was joined by road users around the country to discuss...

We kick off our ‘Buying Irish’ series today, with thanks to Champion Green, Ireland’s Support Local Campaign. Champion Green and Lunchtime Live are encouraging local people to support local business and jobs this Christmas. First up, Irish toys. Andrea was joined by Damien Murtagh, Founder of Arckit, Kevin from Gosling Gifts & Games, Jenel from Clever Tots Toy Club, Michael from Ro Óg and Sharon Keilthy from Jiminy Eco Toys…

Jason, a listener, got in touch with the show to highlight bullying his 13-year-old son received in his secondary school. His son who has dyspraxia and autism and was being bullied by others in his class and Jason had difficulty with the staff at the school about resolving the issue... Other listeners John, Ciarán and Tracy also got in touch with their experiences...

Children in Need, one of the biggest TV events in the UK kicks off this weekend. Andrea was asking should kids have to go on national TV and disclose their illness or trauma in order for people to donate to helping charities? Andrea was joined by Carmel Doyle, CEO of Jack and Jill, Bernard Mulvaney from Access for All and Evie to discuss...

Broadcaster, Síle Seoige has revealed her and her partner have made the decision to no longer show their son Cathal's face on social media. Do you share photos of your children on social media or is it something that is off-limits? Andrea was joined by Caroline Foran, author and host of the Stretch Marks podcast and other listeners to discuss...

Gambling ads are to be banned on television and radio until late at night under plans to be approved by Cabinet today. The Gambling Regulation Bill, likely to come into effect next summer, will fundamentally change the rules of gambling in Ireland. Under the new law people will have to opt-in to receive gambling ads online and those who fail to protect children from gambling could face up to eight years in prison. Andrea was joined by Westmeath hurler, Davy Glennon and listeners David and Noel to discuss... Image: Sportsfile

The Irish Dental Association have given a stark warning to people against travelling abroad to get your teeth done. Amanda Turner and Noreen Keegan Kavanagh joined Andrea to tell her about their experiences of botched dental procedures they had abroad...

Residents of the George’s Quay area in Dublin are getting increasingly worried about the growing levels of local violence from young teenagers. Reports say incidents involving gangs are happening weekly in the area and that it’s only a matter of time before someone is seriously hurt. Andrea was joined local Councillor Ray McAdam, Local Resident Mark Fay and Alan Robinson, Dublin Docklands Business Forum to discuss...

Cervical cancer campaigner Vicky Phelan has died at the age of 48. She passed away at Milford Hospice in Limerick in the early hours of this morning. Clare McKenna was joined to remember Vicky by Senator Lynn Ruane, Newstalk's Frank Greaney, Louise O'Reilly TD, Orla O'Connor from the National Women's Council, John Wall, cancer advocate and others...

Clare McKenna was joined on Lunchtime Live by Síle Seoige, Broadcaster and Host of Ready to be Real and Former Mayor of Limerick Daniel Butler to remember Vicky Phelan, who sadly passed away at the age of 48...

Cervical cancer campaigner Vicky Phelan has died at the age of 48. David Brennan, lifelong friend of Vicky Phelan joined Clare McKenna on Lunchtime Live to remember his friend and the legacy she has left behind... Image: vickyphelanportrait.com

E-bikes and e-scooters are a common topic of discussion with a huge rise in the numbers you see on our roads. A tweet by Katie Harrington has suggested that we should give every child in the country an e-bike when they turn 16 in a bid to cut down on cars on the road, and cultivate a cycling culture. Katie and other listeners joined Adrian Kennedy on Lunchtime Live to discuss the idea…

How do age gap relationships work? Michael and Aaron Flynn-Shore met in New York and instantly hit it off, despite their 37 year age gap. They have just celebrated their 2nd wedding anniversary and joined Adrian Kennedy in studio to chat about how they met and life since marriage...

The price of your pint could be going up. If you’re a Heineken drinker, or any of their other brands like Birra Moretti, Orchard Thieves, Coors, Fosters, Beamish and Murphy's - your pint is likely going up by about 50 cent next month. This is due to Heineken increasing the price of a keg by 9 per cent. Adrian Kennedy was joined by Michael Coyne, owner of Coynes Gastropub in Kilkieran, Connemara in Co. Galway, Pauline Fay, the owner of Fay's Pub in Drumconrath in Co. Meath and Ger Hough, the owner of JJ Hough’s Pub in Banagher, Co. Offaly…

We are in the middle of peak season for baby seals being born! With their big puppy dog eyes, it can be hard to resist the temptation to go up to them. But what people don’t realise is this can scare off their mums who then abandon them. Melanie Croce, Executive Director Seal Rescue Ireland, joined Sean on the show to discuss...

There are fresh concerns today about the number of hotel and guesthouse beds being used to house refugees around the country. The Irish tourism industry have said that if something doesn’t change soon, it will have an enormous knock on effect for the sector next year. Adrian Kennedy was joined on Lunchtime Live by Niall Kelleher, Councillor and Mayor of Killarney, Fianna Fail Councillor Cillian Murphy in Clare and Anthony Gray, Owner, Eala Bhan and Hooked Restaurants in Sligo, Chair of Sligo Tourism to discuss…

Are there enough late-night options available for non-drinkers in Ireland? Starbucks Cafe on St Stephen’s Green in Dublin which was apparently the only 24/7 operated in Ireland - has closed its doors. Adrian Kennedy was joined by Vaughan Yates from The Virgin Mary Bar, Lisa Curran from the Virtue Club, a non-alcoholic nightclub operating in Kerry and other listeners to discuss…

Should more be down to protect island communities off the coast of Ireland? New research shows that West Cork islands are 'at risk of the loss of entire communities' due to the housing crisis. Adrian Kennedy was joined by John Walsh, who lives on Bere Island, Máirtín Ó Méalóid, who lives on Cape Clear and Dr Siobhan O’Sullivan, lecturer in Social Policy in the School of Applied Social Studies at UCC to discuss…

Changes being proposed to social welfare would mean people who earn more money would get higher welfare payments if they lose their jobs. The new system would see different welfare payments offered depending on the person’s previous income or PRSI contributions. It is also said that there will be a cap on the maximum weekly payments. Adrian Kennedy was joined by Brid O'Brien, Head of Policy and Media for the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed, John Barry, from MSS the HR People and listeners Gary, Colm and Dave to discuss…