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.

Tissot UCI Track Cycling World Cup - Day Two - Lee Valley VeloPark

John Whelan: Irish exporters can expect further challenges over trade with China

Global ratings firm Fitch affirmed China’s high level debt rating, but signalled that the outlook was less than rosy amid concerns about Beijing’s economic and trade model

Sun, 14 Apr, 2024

John Whelan: The world is racing to embrace AI but the cost may be too high for Irish SME’s

The scale of investment required in the technology here is lacking

Sun, 31 Mar, 2024

Beautiful aerial view of downtown Vancouver skyline, British Columbia, Canada at sunset

Why Ireland's lucrative exports to Canada are in jeopardy

The French senate last week voted to reject the Ceta free trade agreement between the EU and Canada

Sun, 24 Mar, 2024

John Whelan: The Trump re-election threat to Ireland's rampant growth in services exports

Services exports increased by €28bn in 2023 and now exceed the long-term dominance of goods exports

Sun, 03 Mar, 2024

An Irish passport gives citizens of Ireland, a top view of passports on a wooden table

John Whelan: Restrictions on business visas are harming Irish firms

Ireland lost competitiveness in terms of supporting Irish businesses last year, the OECD has said in a report that targets much criticism at the Government's regulations over granting work visas.

Sun, 18 Feb, 2024

John Whelan: The upfront cost of electric vehicles moves hauliers towards using e-fuels

The investment required for new electric trucks and the availability of e-fuels remain barriers to cutting emissions from the transport sector

Sun, 11 Feb, 2024

John Whelan: Ireland has much to lose from China trade spats

The trade surplus with China, normally a blessing, may now be a cause for concern as the EU, with the US, ramps up rhetoric on potential security threats from over-reliance on Chinese trade

Sun, 07 Jan, 2024

Countries are racing to regulate AI with mixed results

The EU aims to join the US and China in introducing legislation that will aim to ban AI systems using biometric categorisations and facial recognition databases. But will the ban be too widespread, endangering useful progess?

Mon, 01 Jan, 2024

John Whelan: Why Ireland has a green shipping problem

The lack of involvement of Irish ports and the shipping lines that use them puts Irish exporters at a disadvantage to UK and other European exporters

Mon, 11 Dec, 2023

Businessman in suit hand stamping rubber stamp on document in file folder

Intellectual Property's growing role in the Irish economy

For many global companies, Ireland is a perfect entry point to the EU, with a strong infrastructure in place, including a workforce with IP experience

Sun, 12 Nov, 2023