Highlights From Lunchtime Live

For this week’s Ask Me Anything, Conductor and Composer Michael T Dawson, joins Andrea to answer any of your conducting questions!

For the last two days, Lunchtime Live has been focusing on pensions – all you need to know from the very beginning to retirement.Today, Andrea is joined by Co-Founder and Head of Financial advice for Moneycube, Ralph Benson, to discuss the steps you should take with your pension as you approach retirement.

Irish doctors have called for “prioritisation” of further e-scooter regulations after a new study found there was a year-on-year increase in injuries related to the motorized vehicles.These injuries are creating a “growing challenge to healthcare”.Should there be more rules and regulations imposed on these e-scooters, or should they simply be banned from Irish roads completely?Andrea is joined by Colin Baker from Back from the Future IT Support, Cian Ginty Editor of Irish Cycle, Dr Mick Molloy and listeners.

We are less than 48 hours away from runners taking to the start line for the 2025 Dublin Marathon.For many, it will be their first time running in the marathon.Andrea is joined by some of them taking it on, Orla Carney, Producer on The Last Word on Today FM, Broadcaster Mairead Ronan, Stephen Robotham, who is running on behalf of Irish Kidney Association and Running Coach Wes O’Brien!

From a lack of Holy Water to a gigantic Limerick pumpkin, Breakfast Briefing Presenter Shane Beatty joins Andrea Gilligan with plenty of stories from around the country this week!

A new EU pay directive, set to come in next June, would see greater transparency on job listings, aim to help reduce the gender pay gap and allow employees the right to enquire about the salaries of co-workers with similar duties.So, would you welcome this? Would you like to know what your colleagues earn, and would having the salary figure up front encourage you to be more honest in your job search?Joining Andrea to discuss is Caroline Reidy from the HR Suite, as well as listeners.

When you want to make changes to your home, there are some small things you can do that you may not realise can make a big difference!Well, the Home Squad are here to discuss small (but impactful) interior changes!Joining Andrea to discuss is Jenny Sheehan, Irish Examiner Columnist and former winner of ‘Home of the Year’ (@workerscottage on Instagram) and Emma Delaney from April & the Bear.

When pensions were covered on the show, there were huge reactions from listeners - showing that the demand is there to know more about saving for your future.So, we’ve decided to break it down into three parts, over the next three days.We’ll discuss the various different stages of your pension – and what you need to know or do at each point.Today, Andrea is joined by Co-Founder and Head of Financial advice for Moneycube, Ralph Benson, to discuss handling your pension mid-way through your working life.

Parents up and down the country might be starting to pick up the odd thing for their little ones ahead of Christmas.But, should you reconsider buying a toy gun for your child? Given the unstable times we live in, are we normalizing violence for young people by giving them fake weapons to play with?Freelance Journalist Niamh O’Reilly has been writing about this in the Irish Independent, and joins Andrea, along with Stephanie Rohen from the Newstalk Newsroom, Siobhan O’Neill White from Mams.ie and Lisa O’Sullivan Shaw.

Citywest and Saggart were hit with more riots last night as protesters took to the streets to express their frustration surrounding Citywest Hotel housing of refugees.Last night was the second night in a row in which Gardaí had to take to the streets to control the mayhem. Property was vandalized and people living in the area were afraid of what was happening on their doorsteps…The pent-up frustration of these rioters has caused havoc on the streets in South Dublin. What needs to be done to tackle these problems and prevent further riots from occurring?Joining Andrea to discuss is Deputy General Secretary of the GRA, James Morrisroe.

It’s a difficult time to keep a restaurant afloat, leading to menus that are playing it too safe and a feeling that no matter where you go, you’re eating the same stuff.That’s according to Restaurant Critic Katy McGuinness in her latest review for the Irish Independent.So, have restaurants become too similar? Katy joins Andrea, along with Conor Spacey, Culinary Director of Food Space and author of ‘Wasted’.

We’ve decided to do a deep dive on some of our favourite albums to explore the stories behind them.What did the artists really think of each other? Where did the inspirations from the songs come from?Joining Andrea to discuss is Head Tour Guide at the Irish Rock ‘N’ Roll Museum Experience, Alan Buckley, who’s going to talk through Radiohead’s ‘OK Computer’!

When pensions were covered on the show, there were huge reactions from listeners - showing that the demand is there to know more about saving for your future.So, we’ve decided to break it down into three parts, over the next three days.We’ll discuss the various different stages of your pension – and what you need to know or do at each point.Today, Andrea is joined by Co-Founder and Head of Financial advice for Moneycube, Ralph Benson, to discuss getting started!

Lunchtime Live's Reasons to be Happy looks at some of the news stories that you might have missed that will leave you feeling more optimistic.98FM’s Cathal O’Sullivan joined Andrea in the studio to put a smile on your faces…

After an attack on a young girl occurred in Citywest on Monday evening, protesters took to the streets to express their feelings. It comes after the Citywest hotel has been used as an IPAS center to house refugees.The protests soon turned into riots, and a Garda car was set alight, Gardaí were out in force to control the situation.We want to know your opinions on the riots. Were you there, were you impacted, and do these riots hold any merit?Andrea is joined by local residents, Conor Lally, Security and Crime Editor with the Irish Times and John Lahart, Fianna Fail TD for Dublin Southwest & Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade. Later, to discuss if more should have been done to stop it, she is joined by Newstalk’s Chief Reporter Barry Whyte, James Morrisroe, GRA Deputy General Secretary and Cllr Linda de Courcy, Independent Ireland.

Every Wednesday afternoon, we’ll be talking Making Babies.Andrea will be joined by Professor Shane Higgins, Master of the National Maternity Hospital to cover every area of trying to have a baby. From the very start of knowing how to prepare, right up to pregnancy – and all the bumps in the road in between.This week, Shane joins Andrea to discuss the cervical smear.

In today's digital age, where our lives seem glued to our phones, you might question the relevance of sending greeting cards.But, do they still hold a special place in our hearts?Joining Andrea to discuss is Writer Amanda Brunker and Terry Prone, Chairman of the Communications Clinic.

For this week’s Ask the Expert, Andrea is joined by Managing Director of Insuremyhouse.ie, Jonathan Hehir, to answer all your house insurance questions.

S Club Seven star Rachel Stevens has opened up about ‘still grieving’ her marriage, three years after the divorce. Andrea was joined by listeners who shared their thoughts about 'grieving' past relationships.

Andrea was joined by Meghann Scully, Presenter of Newstalk's 28 Ways to Save the World, and by listeners to discuss whether Halloween has become too wasteful.