Noel Whelan: The current Dáil is a very feeble legislatorIt was said the ‘new politics’ needs ‘bedding down’, but our politicians are almost asleepFri May 05 2017 - 04:00
Noel Whelan: Time to set abortion referendum dateNo reason why vote could not be held in late February or early March next yearFri Apr 28 2017 - 04:00
Noel Whelan: The UK faces an unhealthy electionTheresa May undermines British democracy by announcing a vote with no real choiceFri Apr 21 2017 - 04:00
Noel Whelan: Polls suggest another election would not change muchNoel Whelan: new leaders of FG or SF only things likely to shake up Dáil make-upThu Apr 20 2017 - 16:40
Noel Whelan: Ireland and UK must renegotiate Belfast AgreementWe should insist on bilateral talks on Brexit’s implications for the agreementThu Apr 20 2017 - 16:36
Noel Whelan: Anger over Brexit will not get Ireland anywhereIrish frustration must be channelled towards getting the best outcome in EU negotiationsFri Mar 31 2017 - 04:00
In war and peace, Martin McGuinness’s commitment was total and pivotalNoel Whelan: Definitive view of the IRA leader turned politician still to be formedFri Mar 24 2017 - 04:00
Noel Whelan: Votes for emigrants? Don’t hold your breathLittle substance to announcement 1,265 days after convention’s recommendationFri Mar 17 2017 - 04:00
Noel Whelan: Prospect of united Ireland is no longer fancifulFrank debate about unity should be pursued without fear of spooking unionistsFri Mar 10 2017 - 04:00
Noel Whelan: Fianna Fáil are wrong on water chargesThe Dáil is not free to do as it chooses on water – it has to comply with European lawFri Mar 03 2017 - 04:00
Noel Whelan: We are about to have another caretaker governmentFine Gael Ministers will be absorbed by the leadership race and not focused on their jobsFri Feb 24 2017 - 04:00
Noel Whelan: FF needs something bigger to collapse the GovernmentEnda Kenny’s rickety relationships all took a hit over his handling of the McCabe scandalFri Feb 17 2017 - 04:00
Noel Whelan: Arlene Foster proves unionism has not changedDUP leader’s Irish language comments exposed the arrogance alleged by Sinn FéinFri Feb 10 2017 - 01:00
Noel Whelan: Theresa May cares little about Ireland’s Brexit worriesBritish prime minister’s talk of a ‘frictionless’ Border has already been exposed as a fantasyFri Feb 03 2017 - 08:22
Noel Whelan: New politics means little legislationArguably the only substantial piece of new legislation passed by the Dáil was the Act to tackle the housing and homelessness crisisFri Jan 27 2017 - 04:00
Europe is leaving out a key Brexit negotiator: IrelandDirect input from Dublin is essential as article 50 framework has deep flawsFri Jan 20 2017 - 04:00
Noel Whelan: British cannot be allowed to set the pace on BrexitIt is foolish to wait and see what the UK will do before deciding what is best for IrelandFri Jan 13 2017 - 04:00
Noel Whelan: It is naive to say Ireland would never leave the EUBrexit means our main trading partners, the UK and US, will be outside the EUFri Jan 06 2017 - 04:00
Noel Whelan: The Government has been built on three fault linesPoliticians and officials speak of unease pending Brexit and the Trump presidencyFri Dec 30 2016 - 05:00
Noel Whelan: A political junkie’s guide to surviving ChristmasThe books, movies, podcasts and programmes to get you through the downtimeFri Dec 23 2016 - 05:00
Noel Whelan: We must resist SF’s efforts to whitewash over its bloodstained pastAdams got caught out while trying to manage the fallout of Austin Stack’s fight for answersFri Dec 16 2016 - 05:00
Noel Whelan: Should we believe Gerry Adams or Brian Stack’s son?The precedents that illustrate the Sinn Féin leader’s loose relationship with the truth are stacked high and can only damage his credibility in a conflict of testimonyFri Dec 09 2016 - 05:00
Noel Whelan: Water charges tossed back to politiciansExperts were given impossible, highly politicised task, making for timid reportFri Dec 02 2016 - 05:00
Noel Whelan: Ross’s fixation on judges mere political posturingMinister’s animated spat contrasts with low-energy departmental performanceFri Nov 25 2016 - 05:00
Noel Whelan: Election shows that publicity is key to winningAbove all else, Donald Trump’s shock victory comes down to his massive celebrityFri Nov 18 2016 - 05:00
Trump is everything we do not want our children to beWe can deal with incoming US president without abandoning our self-respectFri Nov 11 2016 - 13:33
Noel Whelan: Enda Kenny seems intent on making mess of BrexitNot clear how ‘all-island forum’ without unionist involvement is supposed to help calm impact of BrexitFri Nov 04 2016 - 08:25
Noel Whelan: Clare Daly using Dáil privilege in own interestTDs such as Daly and Paul Murphy have same access to redress as all other citizensFri Oct 28 2016 - 10:37
Noel Whelan: That Donald Trump has nothing to lose makes him dangerousEven if defeated, the candidate has ability to damage the US political system even furtherFri Oct 21 2016 - 05:00
Noel Whelan: ‘Prime Time’ farce shows Fianna Fáil’s peculiar stanceThe party wants to negotiate the budget in private and act as Opposition on TVFri Oct 14 2016 - 05:00
Noel Whelan: Expect a weak budget from a weak GovernmentIt is clear budget will not be transformative moment in Irish social or economic policyFri Oct 07 2016 - 01:00
Noel Whelan: Expect more Fianna Fáil flip-flops on waterLatest move to abolish charges for good took some members of the party by surpriseFri Sept 23 2016 - 05:00
Noel Whelan: Nama’s attack on the C&AG may backfireIf watchdog not fit to oversee Nama then somebody or something else will have toFri Sept 16 2016 - 01:00
Noel Whelan: Donnelly plots his course to ministerial officeHe may well be rewarded for supporting the Government as an independentFri Sept 09 2016 - 01:56
Noel Whelan: Turning our back on €13bn would be politically explosiveA frank and honest communication of the case for an appeal is needed but unlikelyFri Sept 02 2016 - 08:24
Harsh realities of Budget 2017 will wake up Irish politicsThe next 10 weeks will be the first test of ‘new politics’ following its summer slumberFri Aug 26 2016 - 01:00
Shane Ross needs to be better prepared to tackle Rio ticket controversy‘Gubu does not do justice to the events surrounding the Olympic Council of Ireland this week’Fri Aug 19 2016 - 01:06
Noel Whelan: President Trump could actually happenThere will be no clarity on the actual state of the race until after the early September Labour weekendFri Jul 29 2016 - 01:19
Theresa May future-proofs herself against inevitable Brexit backlashShe has decided the Brexiteers should be beside her taking the flak for their overselling the benefits of leaving the EUFri Jul 22 2016 - 08:40
Noel Whelan: Silly errors bring Enda Kenny’s leadership back into focusFine Gael would be wise to learn from recent party upheaval in British politicsFri Jul 15 2016 - 01:00
Noel Whelan: Latest Cabinet crisis reveals Kenny’s weaknessA short-lived but decisive Government is preferable to one that survives by doing littleFri Jul 08 2016 - 00:13
Noel Whelan: Politicians have to up their game over EuropeReal engagement vital North and South at each and every stage of Brexit processFri Jul 01 2016 - 01:00
Remain campaign failed to connect emotionally with votersBrexit: Fertile ground laid for Leave over years of politicians blaming BrusselsSat Jun 25 2016 - 09:30
Noel Whelan: Abortion Bill free vote would test Cabinet collective responsibilityNo precedent for freedom to oppose legislation which AG says is unconstitutionalFri Jun 24 2016 - 00:03
Noel Whelan: Remain side hoping for status quo effectIrish government would be remiss if not making known risks of Brexit for StateFri Jun 17 2016 - 01:00
Noel Whelan: New Dáil sets out its stallWith seven weeks to go before summer recess we are unlikely to see any substantial Bills passedFri Jun 10 2016 - 00:28
Noel Whelan: Brendan Howlin is the right choice for LabourReal test of party’s leadership will be the next election - whenever that comesFri Jun 03 2016 - 01:00
Noel Whelan: Forty years on Kingsmill still casts a shadowNobody has ever been brought to justice for the Kingsmill killings and the families of the dead have run a long campaign to have the inquest reopened.Fri May 27 2016 - 00:44
Noel Whelan: Half a year of government has been lostFine Gael and Fianna Fáil have set a slow pace for the new parliamentFri May 20 2016 - 00:56
Noel Whelan: New Government seems to be under the spell of spin‘One wonders why the Government’s media handlers felt the need to engage in this “put the wimmin” up front manoeuvre’Fri May 13 2016 - 01:04
