# John Whelan

All time

# snore

Is this the most boring constituency in Ireland?

Just six candidates are running in three-seat Laois where many believe the result is a foregone conclusion.

45.8k

Feb 16th 2016, 8:30 PM

# whitewash

'Absolutely farcical': EPA report into Portlaoise waste facility slammed

Senator John Whelan has called today’s interim EPA report into the Enva plant in the midlands town a “complete whitewash”.

10.1k

May 13th 2015, 5:10 PM

# strike looming

'Luas security guards have better stab vests than prison officers'

A ballot on industrial action will take place next week.

13.2k

Mar 4th 2015, 7:49 PM

# Battle Stations

Labour is kick-starting its general election preparations tonight

Here’s how…

14.8k

143

Feb 16th 2015, 12:15 PM

# rebuttal

Here are 10 reasons why Eamon Ryan is totally wrong about Alan Kelly...

… and the government’s record on the environment. Labour Senator John Whelan explains…

10.2k

Feb 14th 2015, 10:00 AM

# Trouble Brewing

Calls for Portlaoise Courthouse to be moved after 'mass gurrier brawl'

“Up to 60 people were involved in a wholesale chaotic brawl, fisticuffs and dangerous scenes of violence.”

19.4k

Feb 13th 2015, 7:30 AM

# Read all about it

Plans to merge libraries criticised as 'wholly shoddy and unacceptable'

Will your county be affected?

13.3k

Jan 25th 2015, 10:30 AM

# Penalty Points

NCT delays are making 'an ass of the law', apparently

Have you had trouble getting an appointment?

31.2k

Jan 15th 2015, 4:32 PM

# Irish Water

Amid claims of drunkenness, the Seanad has voted to pass the Water Services Bill

Earlier, proceedings were suspended twice in less than an hour – after a row over claims that senators were coming from the Dáil bar to vote on the Bill last week.

58.2k

221

Dec 22nd 2014, 11:00 PM

# Laois

Disused Avon factory in Portarlington destroyed by massive blaze

It was previously feared that a fire at the site would require the town to be evacuated.

10.9k

Sep 3rd 2014, 9:26 AM

# Chemicals

EPA accused by Senator of not acting on carcinogens released from Portlaoise plant

John Whelan says the EPA is ‘asleep at the wheel’.

9.3k

Apr 11th 2014, 5:39 PM

# Flowers in his hair

Recognise this dashing future senator with a gathering of hippies in the 1990s?

Labour senator John Whelan has penned a book based on his experiences among the Rainbow Gatherings in 1993 and 1994 which will be launched next week.

27.7k

Mar 30th 2014, 9:15 AM

# In Doubt

Rabbitte set to face questions on 'shelving' of UK wind export plan

The plan would see up to 1,000 turbines constructed in Ireland but negotiations on this with the UK appear to have stalled.

12.1k

109

Mar 9th 2014, 2:49 PM

# Political wallop

Here's why the government could lose more Seanad votes in the coming months

A wafer-thin majority and ‘the three amigos’ could all spell trouble for the coalition…

5.5k

Mar 1st 2014, 8:45 AM

# I'm on a boat

Location, location, location: Houseboat moorings costs between €1,250 to €3,500

Yearly mooring charges are set to change as living on a houseboat becomes popular, but some midlands politicians aren’t happy.

41.5k

Feb 5th 2014, 7:15 AM

# What reform?

Senator admits his two-day week 'gives the impression the Seanad is full of dossers'

Earlier, the Taoiseach promised that senators will get more work once legislation to give all third-level graduates a vote in Seanad elections is passed. The upper house is sitting for just a day-and-a-half this week.

12.4k

Feb 4th 2014, 6:42 PM

# Pylon the pressure

Labour senator slams Rabbitte's 'arrogant disdain and contempt' over pylon review

John Whelan’s comments come ahead of Pat Rabbitte’s meeting with the chair of the independent commission examining the controversial pylons project.

6.4k

Jan 31st 2014, 10:24 AM

# Roads

Politicians' drink-driving privilege should 'be withdrawn'

A Labour senator says that the laws are outdated and politicians must “lead from the front” on road safety.

22.4k

100

Jan 21st 2014, 7:30 PM

# Eirgrid

'Gaffe in the Gulf': Backbenchers criticise Taoiseach over linking pylons and emigration

One of Enda Kenny’s own backbenchers has said the Taoiseach’s comments, linking construction of overhead pylons to emigration of young people, are “unfortunate”.

13.7k

108

Jan 7th 2014, 1:33 PM

# Preview

Conference a key test of whether things really are improving for Labour

Labour members and delegates gather in Killarney for the start of their conference tonight with some signs of improvement in the party’s fortunes.

4.3k

Nov 29th 2013, 6:06 PM

# Labour Pains

'A gross error of judgement': Labour senator has "no confidence" in Rabbitte after Eirgrid appointment

John Whelan’s criticism of Pat Rabbitte follows the appointment of John O’Connor as chairman of Eirgrid.

13.4k

Nov 15th 2013, 6:15 AM

# Garryhinch

New restrictions prompt calls for water project in Laois to be fast-tracked

The Garryhinch Water Project has been long mooted as an alternative and sustainable water supply for the Greater Dublin area.

11.4k

Nov 2nd 2013, 7:59 PM

# Jobseekers Allowance

Three Labour senators targeted over dole cut but they'll support measure

Young people are being urged to lobby three Labour senators to vote against a provision of the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill in the Seanad next week but they will all support the measure.

6.9k

Nov 2nd 2013, 7:15 AM

# Seanad

Confusion and not obstruction was reason for government’s defeat in the Seanad

Why did the government lose a vote in the Seanad last night? Here’s what we’ve found out today.

7.1k

Oct 3rd 2013, 3:55 PM

# Seanad

'The question is carried, isn't it?': The moment the government was defeated in the Seanad

It wasn’t the first time the government has lost a vote in the upper house but it came with the referendum just two days away.

9.3k

Oct 3rd 2013, 7:23 AM

# Exports

Exports to fall by €2.8 billion this year

The expiration of pharmaceutical patents have impacted sales in that sector, hurting Ireland’s national exports.

4.7k

Aug 8th 2013, 9:24 AM

# Inquiry

Labour senators seek new inquiry into priest's murder in 1985

Fr Niall Molloy died in July 1985, but a trial jury was direct to acquit the accused before an inquest revealed a violent death.

5.6k

Mar 7th 2013, 6:50 AM

# Garda cuts

Labour senator stands over claim that Shatter made joke about garda cuts

Alan Shatter strongly denies that he made a joke in relation to garda station closures as has been alleged by the Labour Senator John Whelan.

12.7k

Feb 5th 2013, 11:58 AM

# Abortion

Labour councillor demands internal investigation into Senator's Savita case comments

Clontarf councillor Jane Horgan-Jones has called for an internal investigation into comments made by John Whelan.

11.3k

Nov 15th 2012, 4:09 PM

# mission to prey

Senator wants RTÉ chair before Oireachtas Committee for a third time

John Whelan is to formally request that Tom Savage appear before the Oireachtas Communications Committee over the role of the Communications Clinic in the Mission to Prey programme.

2.8k

Jun 4th 2012, 2:19 PM

# RTÉ

Mullen tells RTÉ critics to 'stop calling for heads' in Reynolds dispute

The independent NUI senator says calling on Tom Savage and Noel Curran to step down shows a “PR approach to politics”.

3.0k

May 23rd 2012, 2:21 PM

# RTÉ

RTÉ chair and DG back before Oireachtas committee over Fr Reynolds case

Tom Savage and Noel Curran face more questions from TDs and senators over the Fr Reynolds defamation case.

2.2k

May 22nd 2012, 1:45 PM

# RTÉ

Senator joins call for resignation of RTÉ chairman

Last week’s Oireachtas committee meeting saw “Pontius Pilate hand-wringing”, says Labour’s John Whelan.

2.9k

May 20th 2012, 7:40 AM

# Justice

Families of homicide victims call for end of concurrent sentencing

“There is terrible inequality in the Irish justice system, where the rights of victims of homicide and their families constantly fall by the wayside,” say AdVIC.

3.7k

Apr 21st 2012, 11:54 AM