

Lunchtime Live
Newstalk
Andrea Gilligan invites callers to have their say on the topics of the day - get in touch by emailing lunchtimelive@newstalk.com Listen and subscribe to Lunchtime Live on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 17, 2025 • 12min
Are insurance companies “holding the country ransom”?
Supermac’s boss Pat McDonagh has accused the insurance industry of holding the country to ransom.He’s calling for a statutory inquiry, wondering why premiums keep going up-even though insurance claims are actually going down?Joining Andrea to discuss this is Pat McDonagh, CEO of Supermac's, Moyagh Murdock, CEO of Insurance Ireland and more.

Sep 17, 2025 • 9min
Reasons to be Happy: DJ Cillian Murphy, Adele, Potato Election
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…

Sep 17, 2025 • 19min
What it’s like to live with MS
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a life-altering neurological condition that affects thousands of people across Ireland. It can impact mobility, speech, vision, and everyday life.Joining Andrea in the studio to talk about living with MS, and the MS Readathon is Meath Gaelic Footballer, Cillian O’Sullivan and Jamie Crawford.

Sep 17, 2025 • 12min
Making Babies: Dealing with miscarriage
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 difficult topic of miscarriage, and what you should know.

Sep 17, 2025 • 8min
Should we be worried about AI scams?
AI is the fastest growing online industry in the world, and it was probably inevitable that it would be used to try and scam people.Karl Deeter, CEO of OnlineApplication.com has experienced this for the first time, and joins Andrea to discuss.

Sep 17, 2025 • 19min
Are too many people going into third level?
With many people heading off to third level, many companies must now look outside of Ireland for tradesmen and women. It comes as Dublin Bus has had to recruit from overseas because of a shortage of mechanics here.Many people who take on apprenticeships, learn on the job, earn a living while doing so and in turn, start on a decent salary when they have qualified. So why are these jobs being overlooked?Has college opened such a wide range of doors for people that now the everyday trade is a thing of the past?Joining Andrea to discuss is Iarnród Éireann's Apprentice Training Manager, Conor Doolin, and listeners.

Sep 16, 2025 • 13min
Ask the Expert: Dublin Bus
For this week’s Ask the Expert, Andrea is joined by Blake Boland, Spokesperson for Dublin Bus to answer your public transport questions!

Sep 16, 2025 • 18min
Does social media glamourise farming? - Henry McKean Reports
The Ploughing Championships started earlier today, with 300,000 people expected to attend! When thinking of farming, do you believe that social media makes it look more glamorous than it actually is?Henry McKean is there and speaking with farmers (and the Tánaiste!) for their thoughts!

Sep 16, 2025 • 18min
Is ten minutes enough for a child’s lunch break?
Do you think children today have enough time for play and to properly digest their food? There are reports of some Irish schools offering as little as 10 minutes of lunchtime for kids. And what about the number of children who end up taking food home? Does your child feel rushed eating in school?Andrea is joined to discuss by Daniel Davey, Sports Nutritionist, Eoin Dolan, Principal of Mother of Divine Grace National School in Finglas, Sarah Keogh, Dietitian & Founder of Eatwell and more.

Sep 16, 2025 • 10min
Eoin Hayes blackface controversy - what do you think?
The Social Democrats had only just given TD Eoin Hayes a second chance after he misled the party about holding shares in Palantir, a controversial company that has profited from Israeli military actions in Gaza. But now, Hayes is under scrutiny again, this time over photos showing him in blackface portraying Obama at a Halloween party 16 years ago…Should we be more forgiving of people's past mistakes - or are some actions simply too serious to overlook, no matter how long ago they happened?Joining Andrea to discuss is Mamobo Ogoro, Founder of Gorm Media and Social Psychologist and Eoin O’Malley, Professor in Political Science at DCU.


