Highlights From Lunchtime Live

People Before Profit have said in their election manifesto that they will, if successful, introduce a four-day working week.They also say they want annual leave increased to 30 days with two extra bank holidays.Is it realistic? Would you like to see a four-day working week introduced?Andrea is joined by Grace Williams from the trade union Fórsa as well as listeners to discuss.

For this week’s Ask the Expert, Andrea is again joined by Dermot Goode, Health Insurance Expert with Totalhealthcover.ie to answer any of your questions!

Inspired by her mother’s cancer diagnosis and subsequent chemotherapy treatment, Galway Student Olivia Humpreys created a portable chemotherapy cooling device, which has won the Irish James Dyson Award 2024.Olivia joins Andrea to discuss.

Do we ignore men’s mental health when they become fathers? A new report says that both fathers-to-be and new fathers should be given as much emotional support as women in the run up to parenthood.What was your experience?Joining Andrea to discuss is Dave, CEO of Lads to Dads, Comedian Steve Cummins, Psychiatrist Brendan Kelly and more.

What is it like to be a woman in business in Ireland? Are doors open or closed, and what kind of help is out there?Andrea is joined by two business women, Chupi Sweetman-Durney, Founder of Jewellery brand ‘Chupi ‘ and Oonagh O'Hagan, Owner and Managing Director of Meaghers Pharmacy Group to hear their stories...

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.Today FM’s Cathal O’Sullivan joined Andrea in the studio to put a smile on your faces…

Ugly buildings have left people feeling dejected, lonely and unable to form friendships. That is according to a report in the UK by the Centre for Social Justice, who say that there is a clear link between social problems, a lack of community spirit and poor building design.Half of the adults surveyed said that architects and planners were out of touch with what local people wanted.So, does Ireland have an ‘ugly building’ problem?Andrea is joined by Robin Mandal from the Dublin Democratic Planning Alliance, David O’Brien from the Limerick Civic Trust and more to discuss.

Welcome to The Pod Squad!We review podcasts every Tuesday so you always have something new to listen to.This week, Presenter of Tech Talk on Newstalk Jess Kelly and Off the Ball’s Cameron Hill join Andrea to review ‘Kill List’!Image: Wondery

You may have seen the videos of Simon Harris and Mary Lou McDonald out on the campaign trail yesterday. They both visited Sound Quality Gifts in Monaghan, where Manager Helen treated them to a jive.Andrea is joined by Helen Drumm, Manager of Sound Quality Gifts in Monaghan to discuss how this came about, and Kelly Smyth, Owner of Dance Craft joins Andrea in studio to talk about how popular the dance has become.

Craig Ballentine from Co. Tyrone is currently stranded in Dubai after he was arrested over a negative review he posted online relating to a dog grooming centre.He could be facing up to 2 years in prison if found guilty…Radha Stirling, CEO of campaign group Detained in Dubai is working on getting Craig home, and joins Andrea to discuss.

For Lung Cancer Awareness Month, two listeners, Samantha and Gillian, join Andrea to share their stories.They are both fighting the same disease, but are both non-smokers.

This year on Lunchtime Live we’ve been looking at things that we can do in order to make ourselves that bit happier and healthier.This week, while you’ll usually hear her on the Pod Squad, Shelly Gray from Today FM joins Andrea to discuss climbing Mount Kilimanjaro!

Gym owners say they are baffled at a Fine Gael proposal to increase VAT on gym memberships. Would an increase from 9% to 11% force gyms to increase their prices?Darina Dunne is the Chair of the Irish Physical Alliance, and this is something that she and the IPAA have been critical of...She joins Andrea, as well as Karl Dunne, Chief Executive of Ireland Active and more to discuss.

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

Doing just five extra minutes of exercise a day could help lower blood pressure.So, if you usually go for a 20 minute walk, make it 25!If your cycle to work is about half an hour, could you do another 5 minutes around the corner? Could that really make that much of a difference?Joining Andrea to discuss the benefits is John Belton, Wellness Coach and owner of No.17 PT, Human Performance.

You have probably noticed that election posters have popped up all over the country throughout the weekend.The General Election has been called for Friday, November 29th and between now and then you will certainly receive a flood of candidate leaflets and election paraphernalia.What do you think about election posters? Are you fine with them, or are you sick of them already?Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

A new survey commissioned by An Post reveals that young people between the age of 18-24 have emerged as the biggest users of cash.Do you use cash? Does it help you to budget better?Joining Andrea to discuss is Sinead Ryan, Consumer Expert and Presenter of the Home Show on Newstalk as well as listener James in Donegal.

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!Adrian Martin, Owner of Luigi Malones Temple Bar and the Wildflower Restaurant in Dublin joins Andrea this week to discuss prepping for having a baby - and the importance of stocking up the freezer for those early days!Follow the hashtag #LLBigBatch for all our recipes.

Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary made some controversial comments about teachers being on “the dole” at an election event at the weekend where he endorsed Fine Gael TD Peter Burke, doubling down on them while on Newstalk Breakfast this morning.What do you think about Michael O’Leary’s comments about teachers?Andrea is joined by Rodney Farry, Journalist with the Westmeath Examiner, Labour General Election candidate for Kildare North Angela Feeney, Sarah Calvey, Principal of Castlebar Educate Together NS and more.

The General Election campaign will formally begin later today when Taoiseach Simon Harris asks President Michael D. Higgins to dissolve the Dáil. Harris will travel to the Áras to trigger a three-week campaign ahead of polling day on Friday November 29th. Joining Andrea to react to his speech and discuss what to expect is Craig Hughes, Political Correspondent with the Irish Daily Mail, with Newstalk’s Political Correspondent Sean Defoe and Newstalk Reporter Andrew Louth reporting on the ground.