Highlights From Lunchtime Live

Dr John Flanagan, GP at Suffolk Street Surgery joined Andrea Gilligan to tackle your medical queries…

Sabbaticals offer significant benefits for both employees and organizations. For employees, they provide an opportunity to recharge, pursue personal interests, and reduce burnout, leading to improved mental health, creativity, and job satisfaction. For organisations, sabbaticals help retain talent, reduce turnover, and foster a culture of trust and loyalty.So, should we be taking more sabbaticals?Joining Andrea to discuss is Wellness Coach and Author, Sinead Kennedy.

Influencers have been warned that they will face action from the consumer watchdog if they are found to be in breach of commercial content laws.Last week, we heard that former Ireland rugby captain Brian O’Driscoll had fallen foul of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC)...He was one of 26 social media influencers taken to task for alleged breaches.Are you happy that the CCPC are taking a stronger hand with influencers around labelling paid posts and content?To discuss, Andrea is joined by Mandy Maher, Owner of The Platform - an agency that represents Social Media Influencers & Content Creators, Dr Irene McCormick, Senior Lecturer in Media SETU Carlow & Course Director of BA Content Creation and Social Media and Sinead O'Moore, Host of the Stretchmarks Podcast.

Planning permission issues in Ireland are a growing concern due to challenges in balancing urban development with environmental and regulatory restrictions. Delays, inconsistencies, and complex zoning rules often frustrate homeowners and developers.Joining Andrea to discuss this is Martin Kelly, Planning Consultant and Martin Linnane, Farmer in Kinvara and more.

Welcome to The Pod Squad!We review podcasts every week so you always have something new to listen to.Off the Ball’s Cameron Hill and Ellen Butler from the Newstalk Newsroom join Andrea to review the BBC’s ‘Hooligans’!Image: BBC

US President Donald Trump has a detailed tariffs plan for multiple industries to be revealed on the 2nd of April. This could include pharmaceutical and the food/drinks industries. How worried should the people of Ireland be about this?Joining Andrea to discuss is SIPTU Deputy General Secretary for the Private Sector Greg Ennis, Carrigaline Fine Gael Councillor Jack White, Sarah Grubb Cashel Farmhouse Cheese and more.

For this week’s Ask Me Anything, Jasmine Gerhardt, Miss Ireland and upcoming contestant in Miss World joins Andrea to answer any of your questions!

Today is National Daffodil Day; all around the country you’ll see people out today with buckets asking you to give generously for the Irish Cancer Society.So, where does the money go?Andrea is joined by listeners to discuss.

There has been a lot of talk about the hit show Adolescence recently.It has brought a lot of conversations to the fore – especially about the ‘manosphere’, influencers like Andrew Tate and dissatisfaction among young men.Joining Andrea to discuss toxic masculinity and men’s mental health is Human Potential Coach Ben Bidwell, Eimear Murphy from REIM Training Solutions, Chris Sherlock, Author, Mental Health Advocate and Anti-Bullying Campaigner as well as listeners.

Are you a football chanter?What is it about chanting at a football game that you love so much? What joy does it bring out in you?Apparently, over half of fans believe self-deprecating songs are a big part of football's fun.Joining Andrea to discuss is Off the Ball’s Johnny Ward, Ciaran Bradley from Newstalk’s Digital Team and Maeve De Burca, former Ireland player and Pundit.

From loo of the year to takeaway troubles, Breakfast Briefing Presenter Shane Beatty joins Andrea with plenty of stories from around the country this week!

British MP Andrew Rosindell has called for Ireland to rejoin the Commonwealth, arguing it could strengthen trade, diplomacy, and cultural ties. He believes membership would foster shared values of democracy and peace, offering Ireland new opportunities for global cooperation, despite the historical complexities between Ireland and the UK.What do you think?To discuss, Andrea is joined by Ray Bassett, former Senior Diplomat for Jamaica, Bahamas, Canada and Australia, as well as listeners.

If you don’t like the look of your radiator at home - no need to worry! The Home Squad are here to talk about what you can do to cover them up.Andrea is joined by Jenny Sheehan, Irish Examiner Columnist and former winner of ‘Home of the Year’ and Róisín Lafferty, Founder & Creative Director of Róisín Lafferty Design House to discuss.

Makeup Expert Michelle Ragazzoli Stone joins Andrea to share her five favorite beauty products. With her years of experience and eye for quality, she’ll walk you through the essentials she swears by for creating flawless looks!

The lack of speech and language therapists in the country is having a profound impact on Irish children.That’s according to Andrea’s guest, Eoghan O’Byrne, Principal of St Mary’s National School in Limerick City. He joins, along with Sarah Kelly, SpeakEasy Speech and Language Therapist and listeners to discuss.

This weekend the Endometriosis Association of Ireland are having their annual conference.It'll bring experts in front of people living with the condition to help gain understanding and knowledge.Andrea will be there, and so will Dr Larisa Corda, an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist and Serena Massey, CEO of Endometriosis Association of Ireland. They join to discuss.

One Irish man is making it his mission to visit every Irish pub in the world.Colm Dalton, originally from Kerry, now living in London, joins Andrea to discuss.

How little is too little when it comes to clothes at the gym?An article in the Times UK writes:‘I’m in the gym with semi-clad young women. Where do I look?’ writes Robert Crampton, ‘At my gym, whose patrons are three-quarters women in their twenties and thirties, I often feel as if I’ve wandered into the girls’ changing room by mistake’.What do you think?Have you noticed a lack of clothing at the gym?Andrea is joined by Paul Byrne, Director of Body Byrne Training, Nathalie Lennon, Content creator & personal trainer, Paulette Egan, Co-Founder of athletics clothing brand I-Spy clothing as well as listeners to discuss.

The cost of health insurance, energy, broadband, mobile and television services are all due to go up next month.So, several of your bills are going to rise, and soon.Joining Andrea to discuss why this is happening and what you can do is Irish Independent Personal Finance Editor, Charlie Weston and Michael Kilcoyne, Chairman of the Consumer Association of Ireland.

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…Image: CMAT