Highlights From Lunchtime Live

Over 4,500 people have signed a petition that says public transport options for Irish pet owners are "severely limited".As more people treat pets like family, there’s growing interest in letting them travel by bus, train, or tram.Today we’re asking: Should public transport in Ireland be more pet friendly?Joining Andrea to discuss is Laoise Downes, Owner of Outpaws and Wedding Woofs, Lynsey of FitDog.ie, 98fm’s Russell Alford and more.

For this week’s Ask the Expert, Andrea is joined by Estate Agent for Hunters MD Rowena Quinn to answer any of your property-related questions!

A school in Galway is offering €2,000 to new pupils who join the school in an attempt to prevent the loss of its second teacher.Scoil Naomh Pádraig in Connemara is set to lose three of its seven pupils next September, and therefore, its second teacher.The Parents Committee’s fundraiser has brought in €14,000 to potentially share with seven families that choose to educate their children at the Gaelscoil, which is located between loughs Corrib and Mask in north Connemara.Joining Andrea to discuss is Ruaidhrí Kineavy, Treasurer for the Parents Committee for the school.

Almost half of people getting married are willing to go into debt to fund their wedding celebrations, according to a survey from online savings platform Raisin Bank.With the average cost of an Irish wedding currently between €10,000 and €20,000 – have things gotten too expensive?Joining Andrea to discuss is Lyndsey Moynagh, Wedding Planner, Social Media Content Creator Holly Carpenter, Broadcaster and Sustainability Influencer Fionnula Moran and Senior Newstalk Producer Helena O’Toole.

Recent figures from Cars Ireland reveal manual car sales have dropped by over 50% in the last ten years, while automatic sales have skyrocketed by more than 500%.So, will automatics soon take over completely, or do drivers still hold on to the thrill of changing gears themselves?Joining Andrea to discuss is Brenda Bolger, Driving Instructor from the Bolger School of Motoring in Kilkenny, Nadia Adan, owner of Ashford Motors, as well as listeners.

It’s How I Live Well time! Where someone joins to discuss what they do to improve their life…This week, Andrea is joined by Marie McDonald and Carmel Reidy from Greystones Scrabble Club to discuss the benefits behind this timeless board game!

Love Island returned to our screens last night, much to the delight of many.But, does the show perpetuate unrealistic standards of beauty?Joining Andrea to discuss is Holli Breslin, Entertainment TikTok Reporter, Orlaith Condon, Co-Host of ‘My Pod on Paper’, Mikie O'Loughlin, Showbiz Editor of RSVP and Kerry Hanafy, Clinic Owner for Kerry Hanaphy Aesthetic Clinic.Image: Hulu

Dr Niall Breen from the Portmarnock GP Clinic joined Andrea Gilligan to tackle your medical queries.

Phones have become an extension of ourselves, an ever-present feature as we make our way through our days.But, a pub in Cork has decided to go offline…Michael Droney and Pat Bourke, owners of The O’Sho, join Andrea to discuss!

School's out, and it's time to scream and shout! But, for many parents, the real juggling act begins. In Italy, some parents are even turning to therapy to cope with what they call the ‘nightmare’ of the three-month summer holiday.So, how are you planning to keep the kids entertained this summer? Are summer camps the answer, or are they just too expensive for the average family?Joining Andrea to discuss is Katie Makk, parent and host of the ‘Opinions Matter’ podcast, Mary McCarthy, columnist for the Irish Independent, Ollwyn Moran, Neuro Developmental Therapist & Founder of COGNI Kids and Marie O’Reilly, Publisher of children’s magazine Primary Times.

What are the things you put off or procrastinate over? The singer behind the song ‘I don’t like cricket, I love it’ went to see cricket for the first time ever nearly 47 years after it was a hit!Have you let something go that long? What are your tips to avoid procrastination, and how do you get the jobs you’ve pulled the finger out?Joining Andrea to discuss is Dr. Brendan Kelly, Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin and Nicola Bardon, Features Writer with the Irish Sun.

Welcome to The Pod Squad!We review podcasts every week so you always have something new to listen to.Tom Douglas from the Newstalk Newsroom and Native Editor with DMG Ireland Sarah-Jayne Tobin join Andrea to review ‘Begin Again With Davina McCall’!Image: Flight Story

Rent pressure zones are set to be gotten rid of – with a plan going to cabinet soon.Currently, rent increases are capped at 2% a year, or at the rate of inflation, whichever is lower.But, will this do anything to solve the housing crisis?Joining Andrea to discuss is Maurice Deverell, Member of Irish Property Owners Association, Carol Tallon, CEO of Property District and author of ‘Irish Property Buyers Handbook Annual’ as well as listeners.

What goes into making a huge theatre production?What kind of work goes into putting on those huge shows that we see like the Lion King or Wicked?For the first time ever, the Bord Gais are making an entire production from scratch…General Manager at the BGET and Producer of Little Shop Of Horrors Stephen Faloon and Director and Choreographer of the show Claire Tighe join Anna Daly to discuss!

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 guest host Anna Daly in the studio to put a smile on your faces…

Inflation across groceries and household items is resulting in an increased spend of nearly €400 from the same shopping basket as last year, but how is it impacting Irish consumers and particularly families, and what are the ways in which the cost of living crisis has affected and changed the ways in which you shop?Joining guest host Anna Daly to discuss is Sinead Ryan, Consumer Columnist with the Irish Independent and Presenter of the Home Show on Newstalk, as well as listeners…

Are you superstitious? Do you believe in fairies? Maybe not, but would you interfere with a fairy fort or a hawthorn tree, and what do we believe about these ancient sites?Folklorist Shane Lehane advises that perhaps we'd better leave them alone when it comes to the fairies, and that there’s a long-standing tradition that decrees we should not touch these ancient sites.He joins guest host Anna Daly to discuss, as well as listeners.

Every Wednesday afternoon, we’ll be talking about Making Babies.Guest host Anna Daly is 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 Anna to talk about different models of care?

In a major shake-up in France’s digital landscape - Pornhub, YouPorn, and RedTube have gone dark nationwide.The move comes after their parent company, Aylo, suspended access in protest of new French laws requiring strict age verification to block minors from adult content.Critics say it raises privacy concerns; the government insists it's protecting children.But, should porn sites in Ireland require user verification?Guest host Anna Daly is joined by listeners to discuss.

For this week’s Ask the Expert, guest host Anna Daly is joined by Roisin Sullivan, Lactation Consultant with the HSE to discuss and answer any questions regarding lactation!