Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern, will be raising issues of security for Irish tourists when he visits Turkey this week, writes Christine Newman.
Mr Ahern had been scheduled to visit the country in his capacity as UN special envoy for a series of bilateral meetings on UN reform.
However, the agenda will be broadened in the light of the bomb attack in Kusadasi.
A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs said: "The Minister will be discussing the security situation and safety for Irish tourists given that an Irish woman has been killed."
The Minister will be briefed on the situation by the Irish Ambassador to Turkey, Tony Mannix, and embassy officials when he visits Ankara.
He will meet Turkish officials and is expected to have talks with Turkish foreign minister Abdullah Gul.
The department spokesman said an official from the Irish Embassy in Ankara arrived in Kusadasi early yesterday morning.
A second official may also be going to the resort.
He said there were no reports of any Irish citizens being injured in the bomb attack.
The spokesman said the primary function for embassy officials in Kusadasi would be to facilitate the return of Ms Whelan's body to Dublin.
Also, if members of Ms Whelan's family wanted to go to Kusadasi, embassy officials would be making the arrangements, he added.
The consular officials would also be available to assist any other Irish tourists in Kusadasi, he said.
After an incident such as this, the department would always review the advice given to people travelling to Turkey. At the moment, the advice was to exercise caution and be particularly vigilant. It was not the first attack in Turkey.
The Irish Embassy staff in Anakara would be talking to the security services in Turkey and also consult EU counterparts to examine if there should be a change in the advice.
The Minister is also scheduled to visit Cyprus and Greece.
Immediately after the attack on Saturday, the Minister issued a statement condemning what he described as "this cruel and senseless act".
"There can be no justification whatsoever for this atrocity. I condemn in the strongest terms those who planned this attack.
"I call on the Turkish authorities to pursue those responsible with the utmost vigour and to bring them to justice," he said.
His department was in contact with the family of Ms Whelan and providing all possible consular assistance to them, he said.
"I have instructed our ambassador in Turkey to request the authorities to review security arrangements in tourist resorts in the wake of this attack to ensure the safety of Irish and other holidaymakers," the Minister said.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern also condemned the attack. He said such terrorists had no place in society.
Once more it appeared the bombers had struck against ordinary people, Mr Ahern said. His thoughts and prayers were with those caught up in the atrocity, he added.