Lunchtime Live

Parents in the UK can be fined £80 per day per child for school absences.Despite this, many parents are still choosing to take their children out of school to save on exorbitant travel prices during school holidays.There have been calls to review marketing and pricing of ‘rip-off’ family holidays from companies which charge thousands more for holidays taken during school breaks.What do you think?To discuss, Andrea is joined by Lisa O'Sullivan Shaw, @modernirishmom, Rachel Harper, Principal of St Patrick's National School in Greystones, Yvonne Reddin, Freelance Travel Journalist, Steve Cummins, Comedian and Co-Founder of Zoomparty.ie and more.

Andrea is joined by Eoghan Tomas McDermott, Managing Director of The Communications Clinic and Mark Kelly, Founder of AI Ireland to discuss.

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.Newstalk News Anchor Eamonn Torsney joined Andrea in the studio to put a smile on your faces…

A new study has found that almost half of parents in Ireland give their children pocket money.And, digital currency, such as Revolut, is by far the most popular way to pay out pocket money – with almost 60% of parents saying they use it.The survey, by the Teachers’ Union of Ireland Credit Union, also discovered that almost nine in ten say that children should earn the money by carrying out some household chores.What has your experience been of paying out pocket money? Do children understand the value of money?Andrea is joined by John Lowe from MoneyDoctors.ie as well as listeners to discuss.

Welcome to The Pod Squad!We review podcasts every Tuesday so you always have something new to listen to.98fm Producer Russell Alford and Laura Donnelly from Newstalk’s Newsroom join Andrea to review something she’s been very excited to hear: NIcky Byrne HQ!Image: Acast

Saoirse Ronan was on the Graham Norton show on Friday with Paul Mescal and Eddie Redmayne. She has been praised online for highlighting what women have to deal with, that men aren’t even aware of, when discussing learning self defence for film roles.Is there a lot of this kind of thing that women have to absorb, that men aren’t even aware of?And has daylight savings impacted it? Have the darker evenings made you more conscious of going out in the evenings?Joining Andrea to discuss is Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent, Jess Kelly and Journalist and Stylist, Laura Mullet.

Remember the Halloween’s of your childhood, where you'd drape a black bin bag over yourself and be a witch, or decorate the house with homemade things? Nowadays, shops are full of decorations aimed not just to scare, but terrify you!So, has Halloween become too gory?Andrea is joined by Horror Consultant Dr Sarah Cleary and listeners to discuss.Richard Quinlan also joins to share an upsetting experience he had due to the use of fireworks around the season as well.

How do you talk to your children about racism?Bethan O'Riordan and Stef McSherry, hosts of The Mum Mind Podcast, were discussing this important subject recently, and it can be difficult for parents to sometimes navigate.They, alongside Conor Buckley from the Human Collective, join Andrea to discuss.

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, Andrea is joined by World Axe Throwing Champion, Ceola McGowan, to learn all about axe throwing!

Mayo TD Michael Ring says that the Government is taking the wrong approach when it comes to addressing the issue of road fatalities.His solution? He would like to see all cars being brought into Ireland fitted with technology to prevent them from reaching speeds above 100 km per hour.What do you think about the idea?Andrea is joined by Road Safety Advocate, Leo Lieghio, as well as listeners to discuss.