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Noel Whelan

Noel Whelan

Noel Whelan is a barrister, author, political analyst and columnist with The Irish Times.

Patrick Kennedy (left), son of the late Senator Ted Kennedy, and Patrick Grennan, fourth cousin of President John F Kennedy,his wife Siobhan and children Eanna and Donagh, at the Kennedy Homestead and Visitor Centre, Dunganstown, New Ross, Co Wexford. Photograph: Eric Luke
A facelift for the family farm

A collective effort inspired by JFK’s fourth cousin, Patrick Grennan, has ensured that a visitor centre will be opened at the old (...)

John F Kennedy poses with relatives in Dunganstown, Co Wexford, on his visit to Ireland in 1963.
Famous Kennedy speech in New Ross in 1963 was only 300 words

Grandson and other clan members to travel to Wexford to commemorate event

Agriculture minister Simon Coveney: initiated his Bill on animal welfare in the Seanad rather than the Dáil. Photograph: Getty
Progress of animal welfare Bill showed benefits of Seanad and bicameral system

Change in Fine Gael policy came from Kenny’s need to refurbish image

Minister for Local Government Phil Hogan deserves credit for finally seeking to put in place a more rational relationship between the number of councillors in an area and the population there. Photograph: Eric Luke
Boundary revisions will have big impact on local government

Column: Apprehensions that small towns will lose out are understandable

Minister for Justice Alan Shatter at this week’s citizenship ceremony at the Convention Centre, Dublin. “Shatter was seen initially (and still sees himself) as an energetic and reforming Minister but his style and personality in office have depleted his political capital.” Photograph: Bryan O’Brien
Shatter’s mistake in the Wallace saga was purely political

Column: The recoil from the Minister for Justice’s revelation was more severe than any impact on the Independent TD

The Seanad chamber. “The Government decision this week to allow the Seanad Reform Bill 2013 to pass to committee stage without a vote arose for reasons of realpolitik rather than from any commitment to reform.” Photograph: Alan Betson
Cabinet allowed Seanad reform Bill to advance because it had little choice

Column: Once a political system becomes dysfunctional it is difficult to alter

The Dáil chamber. “Our parliament could do with an injection of vitality.” Photograph: Alan Betson
High time for political system to allow free votes on issues of conscience

Column: It is not surprising that so many voices on both sides of the abortion debate have called for TDs and Senators to be giv(...)

Then taoiseach Bertie Ahern at a press conference in October 2001 to announce plans for the 2002 referendum on abortion. “In making the case for that referendum and for rowing back on the suicide ground Bertie Ahern and indeed Micheál Martin repeatedly cited the so-called ‘slippery slope’ argument that legislating for termination on grounds of suicide would, as Ahern put it, ‘commence an inevitable slide towards social abortion in Ireland’.” Photograph: Chris Bacon/PA
A free vote on abortion Bill would be healthy precedent for democracy

Column: If it opposes this legislation Fianna Fáil risks alienating the mainstream middle ground

Fianna Fáil’s capacity to recover will depend on its leader Micheál Martin’s success in tackling inherent organisational defects. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill
Key to Fianna Fáil’s recovery is organisational reform

Column: Recent poll ratings bode well for Micheál Martin and his party

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