Highlights From Lunchtime Live

How do you make the perfect cup of tea? Do you scald the cup first? A tweet from Sophie Grenham has caused a lot of debate in the Newstalk office this morning. Andrea was joined by Baker Catherine Leyden and Jenna, Clement & Pekoe's resident tea sommelier to discuss how to make the perfect brew...

The Ukrainian Ambassador to Ireland has criticised the Government’s failure to provide accommodation to incoming refugees, calling it unacceptable. It comes as 43 refugees were told that there was no accommodation for them at the weekend after the Citywest transit hub was closed for new arrivals. Many of those slept in the airport. Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by Anastasia Sytnyk, a Ukrainian woman living in Dublin, Anatoliy Prynakov from Ukrainian Action Ireland, Padraig Hennessy, Vice President of Youghal Chamber of Tourism and Development and other listeners to discuss...

A group of tenants living across more than 30 apartments in a Dublin city property have been served eviction notices. The landlord intends to sell the entire building and they all have to leave. Andrea was joined by one of those tenants, James O’Toole. He was joined alongside Calvin O’Brien, from the Talking Bollix podcast, and other listeners to discuss the impact of gentrification on them and their communities...

Are people too quick to comment on other people’s height? TV Presenter and Author Richard Osman has spoken out about how his 6’7 height has often made him feel "embarrassed". Andrea was joined by former Irish Rugby International, Devin Toner, Broadcaster, Barbara Scully and listeners to discuss...

There are new proposals to ban smoking in public parks and beaches in Ireland. It's thought of as being the next stop in Ireland’s smoking ban. Tobacco officials here have set their sights on extending a zero-tolerance approach to smoking. Andrea was joined by John Mallon, Forest Eireann, Cllr Oisín O'Connor, Green Party Councillor for Glencullen-Sandyford and listeners to discuss...

Frank O’Connor and Jude Sherry, who published the Derelict Ireland report, will be joined by Holly Cairns and the Social Democrats co-leaders, Roisin Shortall and Catherine Murphy, this weekend in Cork as they look at the harsh reality of our dereliction crisis in Cork City. Holly Cairns TD, Social Democrat TD and Brendan O'Sullivan is the Head of University College Cork’s Planning School joined Andrea on the show to discuss…

eBay have removed Jeffrey Dahmer Halloween costumes from their online auction site. eBay say that they have a ban on items closely associated with violent felons within the past 100 years. Can you go too far with a Halloween costume? Andrea was joined by Eimear McKeon from the ‘Because You Were Home’ horror podcast, clinical psychologist, Tara Logan Buckley, make-up artist, Adrienne Kennedy Campion and Dr Sarah Cleary, who has a PhD in Controversial Horror…

Britain's Prime Minister's announced she will resign - and a successor will be in place within a week. Andrea was joined by Newstalk's Kieran Cuddihy in London, Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys and London correspondent, Vincent McAvinney to discuss..

Should people who drive bigger cars have to pay more to park them? It’s one idea being floated by Dublin City Council, to disincentivise people from driving higher polluting cars into the city. Is it further punishing people who need to use bigger cars for work? Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by Brian Caulfield, Associate Professor, Civil Struct & Environmental Engineering, Donna Cooney, Green Party Councillor for Clontarf and others to discuss…

Residents in Balbriggan are objecting to the construction of a new playground in the local area because they fear it’ll attract antisocial behaviour. Andrea was joined by residents Paul and Lukas to discuss. They were joined alongside Catherine, from the Liberties Residents Association and others...

What do you do with a loved ones social media accounts when they pass away? Unfortunately it was a situation Donna Ahern found herself in when her twin sister Susan died last year. Donna joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live to discuss her experience...

Dublin man Edward O’Reilly says that he should have been bringing his three newborn babies home from Kenya, but instead – all he brought home is their birth certs. Edward, whose babies were born via surrogacy has been left devastated after the service he used demanded a further €16,000 despite him already paying €50,000. Edward joined Andrea on the show to tell his story...

A woman in the US has caused a storm online recently demanding a refund for having to sit between two overweight people. American Airlines in turn, provided her with a refund. Have you experienced travelling as an overweight person or have you been sat beside someone who was overweight on an airplane? Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by Robert and Nicola to discuss...

One of the main streets in our capital city has been dubbed as dangerous and full of druggies and crime in the Dáil. O’Connell Street in Dublin has long been seen as somewhere in desperate need of help and regeneration, but the problem is thought to be getting worse. Andrea was joined by Fine Gael TD, Paul Keogh, Gary Gannon Social Democrats TD for Dublin Central and other listeners to discuss...

A video online has sparked controversy after Comedian Fabu-D challenged a homeless man to complete the press up challenge for money. In the video, the man does 20 pushups, and Fabu-D gives him €20. People have called for the video to boycotted, while others have said it’s an overreaction. Comedian Fabu-D and Glenda Harrington, from Friends Helping Friends joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live...

Tánaiste, Leo Varadkar has been mocked online after revealing his partner Matt Barrett’s meal prep for the week. However, the fact that none of the containers have lids has caused such a stir that even the Food Safety Authority given their advice online. Andrea was joined by Chef, Edward Hayden, Odile Le Bolloch, environmental scientist with the Environmental Protection Agency and Holly White, vegan chef and lifestyle blogger to discuss...

Is €250 too steep for a restaurant cancellation fee? A Michelin star restaurant in Cork charged a couple that fee after the cancelled their booking with only half an hour's notice. The reason given for the cancellation was that they had to make an emergency trip to A&E. Is it fair for restaurants to have cancellation fees? Andrea was joined by Paul Treyvaud, Owner of Treyvaud’s restaurant in Killarney, Anthony Gray, Owner, Eala Bhan and Hooked Restaurants in Sligo, Stephen McMahon, Co Founder of the Irish Patients Association and listener Fiona on Lunchtime Live…

Our shopping habits have completely changed in recent years, with more of us choosing to buy online rather than in store. And about half of us have said Covid has increased our likelihood to shop online instead. However, a lot of online fashion brands only show their clothes one type of model, leaving people guessing what size to purchase. Andrea was joined by journalist, Anna Carey, Laura Mullet, fashion expert for RSVP Magazine and Ireland AM stylist and Brendan Courtney, presenter and fashion designer to discuss...

A man is alleged to have grabbed a 9 year old boy by the throat during hurling blitz in Tipperary at the weekend. Andrea was joined on Lunchtime Live by listeners to discuss abuse in the GAA at juvenile level and what needs to be done to resolve it...

Geoff, an American joined Adrian Kennedy on Lunchtime Live to discuss the treatment of people from the US in Ireland. He says when people providing services hear his accent charge more money.. Adrian also heard from other listeners from the US, UK and even South Africa about the treatment they have received since they arrived here...