Lunchtime Live

Following the pandemic there has been an increase in students expelled and suspended in secondary schools.  

Expulsions and suspensions numbers are creeping back up to pre-pandemic levels, according to new figures from Tusla

How can we prevent these numbers from reaching pre-pandemic levels? Andrea was joined by Pat McKenna, Former Principal of Pobailscoil Neasáin Baldoyle and Educationalist, Brian Mooney, Guidance Counsellor and Irish Times Education Columnist and other listeners to discuss...

Miriam, a listener, sent an email into Lunchtime Live about her time spent in an industrial school when she was younger.

Miriam joined Andrea Gilligan on the show to discuss her experience...

Image: Children's Homes

Nowadays the world is now more divided than ever. There are a myriad of political and social issues which seem to have split the population. Whether it is politics, international conflicts, gender identity issues, immigration, the list goes on and on. 

Is it possible to maintain friendships and relationship with someone who might have very different views than you? 

Could you be friends with someone who has different political or social views? Andrea was joined by listeners to discuss...

A clean-up operation is under way in towns and villages in east Cork and west Waterford hit by flooding during Storm Babet 

The storm caused millions of euro worth of damage as parts of Ireland suffered its worst rainfall-related flooding in over a decade. 

Cork was worst-hit by the torrential downpours which dumped over a month's worth of rain in less than 24 hours. 

 Andrea was joined by locals to discuss how they have been affected...

CEO of Merchant’s Quay, Eddie Mullins has said Ireland Irelands middle class are sustaining Irelands drug trade.  

He says there are people in politics, media and An Garda Síochána who are habitual drug users. 

Are drugs becoming an issue among all classes in Ireland? Eddie Mullins joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live to discuss.

Andrea was also joined by other listeners to discuss...

Throughout the country during October, people will hear fireworks going off every evening – some even starting in the afternoon. 

Do they bother you? Has it made it scary to go out at night? Or is it scaring the animals in your house? 

Is it time for a crackdown on them? Adrian Kennedy was joined by Dublin City Councillor Mannix Flynn and other listeners to discuss...

Independent Kerry TD Michael Healy Ray told Newstalk Breakfast that students should be finishing school with a leaving cert and a driving license.

Should driving lessons be carried out in schools? Adrian Kennedy was joined by listeners to discuss...

US President Joe Biden landed in Israel on a solidarity visit this morning. It comes after around 500 Palestinians were killed in a blast at a Gaza City hospital last night  

Palestinian officials have blamed the strike on Israel who say that the blast was a result of a stray rocket from Hamas. How do we know who to believe?  

What do you think of the West’s reaction to the conflict? How would you like to see Ireland act?  

Adrian Kennedy was joined by listeners to discuss...

On the Graham Norton Show on BBC last week, a woman who used to live in Fermoy called it a ‘horrible town’.

The comments made by the woman while in the famous red chair have caused outrage among locals.

Andrea was joined by Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Frank O’Flynn, Kay Dawson, Fermoy Coucillor and other listeners to discuss...

A listener emailed Lunchtime Live as she was seeking some help and guidance around her struggle with alcohol.

Brendan Kelly, Professor of Psychiatry at Trinty College Dublin and listeners Declan and Pat joined Andrea to discuss...