Highlights From Lunchtime Live

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 what seems to be a new medical breakthrough, and answer your questions.

New protections for businesses against defamation claims aren’t good enough, according to business owners.The Defamation Bill 2024, which is due before the Seanad today, does not go far enough to protect businesses, they claim, and they have called for certain amendments.Joining Andrea to discuss is Tara Buckley. Retail Grocers Trade Association Director General, Ronan Lupton, Senior Counsel and Specialist in Media Law, as well as business owners.

Middle Abbey Street and North Frederick Street have been chosen for a ‘bold urban-rejuvenation’ pilot scheme.Gardaí and nurses will be among ‘key workers’ eligible to rent in the new low-cost Dublin city homes.But, who should be considered a key worker and will they be able to afford these new cost rental schemes?Joining Andrea to discuss is Chair of the Urban Redevelopment Working Group, Soc Dems Cllr Cian Farrell, former Garda inspector in north central Dublin, former Deputy-Secretary of the AGSI and current Risk, Security & Event Manager of Ashtree Risk Group, Tony Gallagher and listeners.

For this week’s Ask the Expert, Andrea is joined by Pat Keville, owner of the Plant Store in Dublin to answer any of your plant-related questions!

No, it’s not an episode of Black Mirror, AI actors are supposedly an up and coming thing. Tilly Norwood is an AI actress made by company Particle6, but the real question is: would you watch an AI actor? Or, would you rather stick with the real thing?Joining Andrea to discuss is Casting Director Shauna Griffith and Aisling Goodwin, Actor and Dialect Coach.Image: Xicoia

As we move from summer into the winter months, the weather is getting darker and more gloomy.And it’s not just the general atmosphere that’s affected, as storm season will soon get underway…But, is the Government prepared to tackle extreme weather events?The Climate Advisory Council has warned that there has been no tangible storm action taken since storms Darragh and Eowyn, which wreaked havoc across the country earlier this year.Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

“Text me when you get home” is a very common phrase used among women. Whether you are jumping in a taxi after a night out, or driving home from the cinema, the departure among girls and their friends is one that always ensures that they get home safely.Andrea’s two guests are so well versed in this topic that they have dedicated a comedy show to it.In partnership with the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, comedians Claire Roche and Justine Halpin will be performing their comedy show ‘Are Ya Alright Getting Home?’. They join Andrea to discuss.If you ever need it, the Dublin Rape Crisis phone number is available 24/7 on 1800 77 88 88.

It’s How I Live Well time! Where someone joins to discuss what they do to improve their life…This week, Andrea is joined by Tim Pringle, Hidden Hearing's Chief Audiologist in Northern Ireland to discuss ear wax removal!

Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien will seek approval today for legislation to remove the passenger cap at Dublin Airport. As it stands, the cap is set at 32 million passengers per year. By lifting the cap, it will mean that there will be no restrictions on the number of people entering and exiting Dublin Airport each year.The cap was initially brought in in 2007 after the construction of Terminal 2. Since then, Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has been calling on the Government to scrap the cap, as he feels it is long overdue…So, should it be done?Joining Andrea to discuss is Cathal Boland, Fingal Independent Councillor, Hotelier and bar owner, Eoin Doyle, Irish Environmentalist Duncan Stewart, owner of Vaughan Lodge Hotel Lahinch, Michael Vaughan and listeners.

Dr Niall Breen from the Portmarnock GP Clinic joined Andrea Gilligan to tackle your medical queries.

It was a case that gripped the nation: the murder of Tina Satchwell by her husband as she tried to escape from his coercive control…After killing his wife, Richard Satchwell stored her body in a fridge freezer for several days before burying her in a grave he had dug underneath the stairs of their home.Virgin Media Courts Correspondent Deborah Naylor joins Andrea to discuss the documentary ‘The Trial of Richard Satchwell’ which will air tonight…

Team Europe took victory over team USA in the 2025 Ryder Cup over the weekend. The European team which claimed a 15-13 victory over the USA team were victorious in their win, after being faced by unnecessary heckling.It wasn’t only the players that faced abuse. Erika McIlroy was seen wiping away tears after US fans shouted abuse at her as well as having a drink spilled over her…This is not something we are used to seeing in golf. What has changed within this sport, and what needs to be done to prevent this happening in the future?Joining Andrea to discuss is Journalist and Presenter of Golf Weekly podcast, Fionn Davenport, English Professional Golfer Annabel Dimmock, General Manager with Sligo Golf Club, David O’Donovan and more.

Andrea was joined last week by parents who are struggling to get help for their children living with eating disorders…It got a huge reaction, and it’s obviously something that they’re not alone with.Today Andrea is joined by Lynda Duffy, a Licensed RTT Practitioner with personal experience of this. They discuss the disorder, and what the current state of support services are.

Welcome to The Pod Squad!We review podcasts every week so you always have something new to listen to.Sarah Jayne Tobin, Editor of DMG and Tom Douglas from the Newstalk Newsroom join Andrea to review ‘Unicorn Girl’!Image: Apple Podcasts

Dublin has made international headlines recently, not for its charm, but for concerns around safety, especially after an NFL player was reportedly assaulted in the city centre over the weekend…Is this a one-off incident, or is Dublin’s global reputation starting to shift? Is Dublin getting a bad name abroad? What can be done to improve things?Joining Andrea to discuss is Ian Redmond, owner of Hyde and Doug’s Bar, as well as listeners.

For this week’s Ask Me Anything, Gavin O’Hagan, Airside Service Delivery Manager with Dublin Airport, joins Andrea to answer any of your airport managing questions!

Time Out Magazine has put The Liberties in Dublin on its list for the 39 coolest neighbourhoods in the world.Does it deserve to be there?Joining Andrea to discuss is Kevin O'Kelly Jr, owner of the Thomas House Pub and Amy Ryan, Visitor Services Manager at Marsh’s Library Liberties.

Yesterday, Andrea spoke with Paula Crotty who discussed losing her daughter to an eating disorder…It got a really big reaction, so we want to stay with it.How big of an issue are eating disorders in Ireland?Joining Andrea to discuss is Aveen Bannon, Dietican with the Dublin Nutrition Centre, as well as listeners with experience…

Many people are at risk of being evicted and made homeless after the Government’s announcement this week that it will exempt small cabin homes on family land, such as back gardens, from planning rules…The plan has come too late for Andrea’s guest, who demolished his timber chalet-style home last month. Brendan McDonagh from Brittas lost an eight-year battle to keep a timber chalet-style home he built on his parents’ land in Brittas, in the foothills of the Dublin mountains. He was fined €2,000 in the District Court.Brendan and his family did not qualify for HAP, and built their log cabin as a place for him, his wife and two children to live.Since the demolition, their friends have rallied around them to set up a GoFundMe for the family.Brendan joins Andrea to discuss, as well as Town Planner Derek Whyte.

From Waterford boy racers to Limerick jazz, Newstalk’s Eamonn Torsney joins Andrea with the stories from around the country that you might have missed this week…