Highlights From Lunchtime Live

Welcome to The Pod Squad!We review podcasts every week so you always have something new to listen to.Today FM’s Shelly Gray and 98fm’s Russell Alford join Andrea to review ‘Good Hang’!Image: The Ringer

Should Gardaí receive financial assistance to purchase homes given the current housing crisis?Members of the Gardaí Representative Association at their annual conference today will debate a motion to call on the Government to introduce an “enhanced scheme” to allow Gardaí to purchase homes using State assistance.What do you think about this idea?Could it help with recruitment and retention of rank-and-file Gardaí?Should subsidised housing be something that is made available for all civil servants?Joining Andrea to discuss is Tara McManus, Assistant General Secretary of the Garda Representative Association, Eoin Dolan, Principal of Mother of Divine Grace National School in Finglas, Ray Cooke, CEO of Ray Cooke Auctioneers and listeners.

For this week’s Ask Me Anything, Philip Thornton from the DCU Caving Club joins Andrea to answer any of your questions when it comes to being a caver!

Plans have been unveiled for a winter sports arena in South Dublin. The proposed €190 million development in Cherrywood will include two Olympic-sized ice rinks; a 5,000-seat indoor arena and a training centre.Joining Andrea to discuss is Raymond Hegarty, Chair of Seamrog Ice Skating Club, Cllr Jim O’Leary from Fine Gael and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council as well as listeners.

For most brides-to-be, hair and make-up is a big part of the preparation before walking down the aisle. One American woman recently caused a bit of a stir on social media last month when she revealed she decided to go make-up free on her wedding day, going on to amass 30 million views with opinions split down the middle.So, should you wear make-up on your wedding day? And is a completely natural look too stripped back for such an occasion?Joining Andrea to discuss is Laura Mullett, Stylist & Broadcaster, Sarah Kennedy from ‘The Aisle’ blog and Wedding expert, Mary McCarthy, Columnist with the Irish Independent and more.

International accountancy firm Forvis Mazars has announced a new course in social skills for its Gen Z employees, which will simulate client meetings and offer training for speaking on the phone.At the same time, students in three of Manchester’s universities in the UK will be taught empathy, active listening, conflict resolution and time management.Are Gen Z lacking when it comes to ‘soft skills’ in the workplace?Andrea is joined by Caroline Reidy, HR expert with the HR Suite as well as listeners.

Breakfast Briefing Presenter Shane Beatty joins Andrea with plenty of stories from around the country this week!

Nearly 300,000 hospital appointments were cancelled across the country last year – an average of more than 772 every day. That number is growing, even as the state makes efforts to cut waiting lists.Have you been affected? Has one of your appointments been cancelled?And what are your thoughts on the health system at the moment?Joining Andrea to discuss is Dr Matthew Sadlier, Chair of the IMO Consultant Committee, Aontú Leader Peadar Tóibín, Dr Brendan O’Shea, Spokesperson for the Kildare faculty of the ICGP and Kildare GP as well as listeners.

It’s the Home Squad time, and today we’re talking paint with Roisin Lafferty, Founder & Creative Director of Roisin Lafferty Designs & & Jennifer Sheahan, @workerscottage on Instagram and Former Winner of ‘Home of the Year’

The Government is set to crack down on customers using supermarket loyalty cards to get discounts on alcohol.  While existing laws ban customers using loyalty card points to purchase alcohol some supermarkets do allow customers to buy items – including alcohol – at a reduced price if they use their loyalty card. Callers join Andrea to discuss the issue.

Sinn Féin is calling for a dedicated treatment centre for endometriosis, a condition that impacts 1 in 10 women. Andrea speaks to Senator Maria McCormack, a leading voice on women’s health. 

Are you a people pleaser at the expense of your own happiness and wellbeing? Andrea speaks to Brendan Kelly, Psychiatrist and others about the phenomenon.

Some airlines offer free seating for under-12s once an adult has paid for a seat. Andrea asked should this be law across all airlines?

Should we introduce fines for people who conduct loud conversations on public transport?In France, a man was recently fined €200 for using his speakerphone on a train station concourse…Joining Andrea to discuss is Gina London, Communications Expert and Sunday Independent Columnist as well as listeners.

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…

Most teachers think schools should not prepare pupils for church sacraments.That is according to a survey by the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) which found that just 4% of primary school teachers believe it should be the school’s responsibility to prepare children for Communions, Confirmations and first confessions.What do you think?Should religious sacraments preparation be taken out of schools?Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

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 what can act as a barrier to conception.

Ireland is seeing a surge in gold investment, driven by economic uncertainty, inflation fears, and a growing desire for financial security.Andrea is joined by David Higgins, Head of Trading at Merrion Vaults, to find out what’s behind this gold rush, why more Irish people are turning to precious metals, and what it means for investors today…

Sharon Osbourne has called for Kneecap’s US work visas to be revoked…At the end of their Coachella set, they put pro-Palestinian messages up on the big screen behind them.Sharon Osborne has said they took their performance to a different level by incorporating “aggressive” political statements.She said - after witnessing their performance during the first weekend, that allowing them to perform again the following weekend suggests support for their rhetoric and a lack of due diligence.Are artists and celebrities free to make political statements? Or, are they meant to entertain, and nothing else?Joining Andrea to discuss is Alan Buckley, the Head Tour Guide at the Irish Rock ‘N’ Roll Museum Experience, Journalist Saoirse Hanley, John Brereton, Grand Social PR Manager & Director of the Dublin Bowie festival and listeners.Image: @KNEECAPCEOL on Twitter

For this week’s Ask the Expert, Andrea is joined by Adam Buckley, Tattoo Artist in Wildcat Tattoos and Matt Noble, Senior Laser Technician at Dundrum Cosmetic Clinic to answer any of your questions on tattoos, as well as tattoo removal!