Lunchtime Live

UK prime minister Rishi Sunak has pledged mandatory national service for 18-year-olds if the Tories win the UK election in July.

What do you think about the idea? Should we have something similar here?

Andrea is joined by listeners to hear their takes, including Estelle Birdy, journalist and author and Shelly Cotter from the WPDF (Wives and Partners of the Defense Forces).

James Casserly has just graduated from 6th year in school – however, he has been excluded from the post graduation night out and also the Debs.  

James’ mum, Cllr Vicki Casserly, joins Andrea to explain why.

Turbulence has hit the headlines again after eight passengers were taken to hospital following a flight from Doha to Dublin.

Emma Rose, Conor and Malcom were on that flight and joined Andrea to discuss their experience and what exactly happened.

This is Lunchtime Live’s Big Batch. Every Monday we’ll be learning new easy to cook batch recipes from Cook Book Author and Recipe Writer Sarah Butler to keep you eating well. No more staring into an open fridge looking for inspiration! This week Andrea and Sarah looked at veggie burgers and chicken / steak marinade! Very well suited for barbecues and the summer months. Plus, some tips to keep you in charge of the BBQ!

Follow the hashtag #LLBigBatch for all our recipes.

An Irish committee on the funding of water in Ireland recommended that households that use excessive water should pay charges. That was seven years ago, and nothing has changed. 

Independent Councillor Pádraig Ó Céidigh said that the Government is paying €1 billion a year as support to Irish Water, and that people who are wasting water should be punished. 

Are there any circumstances in which you’d agree with water charges? Or where you yourself would be happy to pay? 

Andrea is joined by listeners to hear their opinions.

Every Friday, as part of our ‘Ask Me Anything’ series, we put your questions to people from interesting backgrounds or working in different careers.    

Andrea Gilligan is joined by Ciara Foley from Platinum Travel to learn all about what it’s like being a travel agent.

A London-born teenager is set to become the first millennial to be made a saint. 

Carlo Acutis died of leukaemia in 2006, and since his death, two miracles have been attributed to him by Pope Francis.  

Eight years after his death a seven-year-old boy from Brazil recovered from a rare pancreatic disorder after coming into contact with one of Acutis’s T-shirts. A priest had also prayed to Acutis on behalf of the child. 

Carlo Acutis has been given the nicknames of 'God's influencer' and 'the patron saint of the internet' because of his devotion to promoting Christ's work online before he died. 

The second miracle saw a girl from Costa Rica who was studying in Italy reportedly being healed after suffering a head trauma. She was reportedly cured by the boy after her mother prayed to him.

To discuss, Andrea is joined by Father Paddy Byrne, Parish Priest of Abbeyleix, Raheen and Ballinakill.

Image: The Vatican

Have you ever confronted anyone about their parking? 

Well, one person in Crosshaven in Cork certainly made their feelings known when it comes to bad parking in their area. A number of cards using colourful language were stuck on cars that were poorly parked last weekend.  

What do you think? Is this the approach that might work?  

Andrea is joined by Fianna Fáil Cllr. in the area Audrey Buckley, Irish Independent Columnist Mary McCarthy and listeners to hear their thoughts.

Actor Brian Mulvey’s life changed when, after learning about his son’s autism, he seeked his own diagnosis.

He joins Andrea to discuss what he learned and how it has impacted his life.

From tattoos for Taylor to Gordon Ramsay spotted out and about – Breakfast Briefing Presenter Shane Beatty has stories from around the country you may have missed.