Columns - Irish Examiner

John Whelan

An expert in Irish and international trade, John Whelan is a former Chief Executive of the Irish Exporters Association, a role he held for more than a decade and previously served as an export industry adviser to the AIB Bank Group.

John Whelan: Irish firms set to benefit from EU's Mexico deal

Ireland’s trade with Mexico is already robust and heavily weighted in Ireland’s favour

Sun, 24 May, 2026

John Whelan: High electricity costs threaten Irelands data centre and AI expansion

Ireland lags behind in the total number of data centres and is likely to continue to fall behind if the cost of electricity is not brought down

Sun, 17 May, 2026

John Whelan: Aviation leasing companies reap rewards from Iran conflict

Dublin-based companies, AerCap and Avalon Aviation, indicate that higher funding costs and tightened aircraft availability reaching levels not seen in years, are enabling higher lease rates

Sun, 10 May, 2026

John Whelan: Can Ireland make most of big tech's huge AI spending splurge?

Global investments have seen job cuts but opportunities will emerge for Irish talent

Sun, 03 May, 2026

President Trump Holds "Make America Wealthy Again Event" In White House Rose Garden

John Whelan: Irish exporters set for payback of ‘Liberation Day' tariffs

Some exporters may have to rely on shipping companies to get money returned

Sun, 26 Apr, 2026

John Whelan: Analog Devices bolstering Europe's chips ambition

Company has invested €630m in its Limerick campus, which forms part of Ireland's participation in EU's semiconductor strategy

Sun, 19 Apr, 2026

John Whelan: AI start-ups taking lion’s share of investment funding in 2026

Investors poured €260bn into 6,000 start-ups globally in the quarter, up over 150% year over year

Mon, 06 Apr, 2026

John Whelan: Only niche Irish exporters to benefit from Australia deal

Australia represents a highly significant and strategic market for these companies, and the EU free trade deal which will eliminate the import duty on machinery products will certainly assist their sales promotion efforts

Sun, 29 Mar, 2026

Raz Lafan Gas Plant. Image shot 2006. Exact date unknown.

John Whelan: Irish food exporters facing treble hit from Iran war

Exporters invested in a diversification strategy to reduce dependence on the US

Mon, 23 Mar, 2026

Trump's alternative tariffs may sour Taoiseach’s St Patrick’s visit

US president’s administration is seeking to rush in the new legislation to replace the lost income on tariffs on imports from the EU and other countries

Sun, 15 Mar, 2026