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: Ireland will be unable to escape the crossfire of a second Trump term

The EU sells more goods to the US than it buys, leaving the US with a deficit of €158bn last year. Ireland accounted for €32bn of the deficit, as our US exports rapidly grew

Mon, 28 Oct, 2024

John Whelan: Capital inflows are finally mobilising

Ireland is operating close to capacity with a labour market at full employment

Sun, 06 Oct, 2024

John Whelan: Rate cuts in US and EU could be a double-edged sword

A higher value euro could hurt profit margins of Irish firms, many of which have signed long-term fixed price contracts with clients in the US

Sun, 29 Sep, 2024

John Whelan: Just how low could oil prices go?

Given Ireland’s dependence on crude imports, the country's economy will be boosted by a drop in oil prices and falling transport costs

Sun, 08 Sep, 2024

John Whelan: Trade tensions threaten Ireland's booming exports

The escalating trade rhetoric can easily degenerate into a full-blown trade war, ranging across many industries and creating chaos along the supply chain form Ireland to China

Sun, 01 Sep, 2024

John Whelan: Sustainability compliance changes coming fast for firms

Ireland was one of the first EU member states to implement the new EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Regulations 2024

Sun, 18 Aug, 2024

John Whelan: Pharma in Ireland has bounced back, but how long will it last?

Falling revenues in pharmaceutical firms turned around in 2024 but competition and regulation may pinch the profitability of a sector that is crucial to Ireland

Sun, 04 Aug, 2024

John Whelan: The aviation sector soars again but so do airline costs

The big question facing IATA and airlines including Aer Lingus and Ryanair is how to turn the passenger growth into bottom-line profits

Sun, 28 Jul, 2024

John Whelan: Firms must work to implement new EU AI rules

For SMEs, ignorance of the law is no defence, and firms that buy in AI solutions from the tech giants will be obliged to review their terms and conditions to ensure they comply with the AI Act

Sun, 07 Jul, 2024

Russian Ruble Tumbles as President Putin Orders Forces to Breakaway Ukraine Areas

John Whelan: Sanctions against Russia are not working

The Russian economy has grown at the same rate as the US so far this year and a wide range of European companies have been dodging current embargoes

Sun, 09 Jun, 2024