Lunchtime Live

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has defended its ‘be seen, be safe’ campaign for pedestrians and cyclists to wear high-visibility clothing amid accusations of ‘victim blaming’ vulnerable road users.  

Galway City Councillor and founder of Galway Cycle Bus Alan Curran has slammed the RSA for ‘failing’ in its mandate to protect pedestrians and cyclists. 

What do you think? Is this campaign by the RSA victim blaming?  

Andrea was joined by Kevin Jennings, Chairperson of Galway Cycling Campaign and other listeners to discuss...

The Loneliness Taskforce has criticised the Government for “not living up to their commitment to tackle loneliness”. The report published in June found Ireland had the highest rates of loneliness in the EU, with 20% of Irish participants feeling lonely most or all of the time compared to an European average of 13%.

Andrea was joined by listeners to discuss...

As the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite across the country, Newstalk is here to help with a new online series highlighting the best ways to save on your bills.

Cut-the-Cost will offer tips and advice on how to save on everything from energy and the weekly shop to modern essentials like broadband and phone contracts.

Aoife Kearns, from our news team has done the hard work and sourced the best deals for broadband providers...

DCU has come under fire for charging the students living on campus €56 to park there for the week. 

Previously, students living on campus had to enter a lottery to get allocated a car parking space, which cost €200 last year. 

But the car park will now be on a ‘first come, first served’ basis, and parking their cars overnight full-time will cost students living on campus hundreds of euro extra per year. 

Andrea was joined by DCU student Jack McDonald and DCU Student's Union President Thomas O'Dowd...

Image: Higher Education Authority

Are we biased against people from Northern Ireland?  

Talking about the recent no confidence vote in Garda Commissioner, and Northerner, Drew Harris, Sunday Times Columnist Alison O’Connor wondered whether an unconscious bias against people in Northern Ireland was to blame.

What do you think? Do we have an unconscious bias against people from the North? Are they ‘othered’?  

Andrea was joined by listeners to discuss...

Disability advocate Niamh Ní Hoireabhaird has spoke in the Independent about her excitement about getting married, but the issues it could create for her with her disability allowance.

Niamh joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live to discuss...

For the first time ever the number of beds available to tourists on Venice’s main island has surpassed the number of year-round residents. 

Do we run the risk of going the same road? Are we taking care of tourists too much at a loss to everyone else? 

Andrea was joined by James Madigan, Stalwart of the Liberties Cultural Association and other listeners to discuss?

Last week, Andrea spoke to Mactalene Palm, whose daughter Amber disappeared while on holiday in Disneyland. Today, Mactalene joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live with an update...

The Book of Kells was in the news this week. Trinity College students blocked access for tourists to the Book of Kells this morning. They’re protesting as part of a ‘Freeze the Rents’ housing protest, we talked about it ourselves on the show on Wednesday. 

Since then there has been a lot of talk about the Book of Kells and the fact that it is located in Trinity College. There have been some calls for it to be moved to the National Museum, where it could be viewed for free. Others want the Book of Kells actually returned to the town of Kells in Co Meath. 

Andrea was joined by listeners to discuss…

One of the toughest things a family can go through, is having child that is sick. Particularly one that is sick for a long period of time. As well as the incredible emotional toil it can take, there is a huge financial aspect to this. And it’s often one that isn’t considered unless you’re going through it yourself. Parents have to miss work or sometimes even give up their jobs to take on caring duties, and being sick itself can be expensive 

Does there need to be more financial supports given to families with a sick child? Andrea was joined by Seamus and Susan to discuss…