Lunchtime Live

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.