Cardiff our best-ever nominee for European job: Noonan

The Finance Minister Michael Noonan has said he still supports the former head of the Department of Finance Kevin Cardiff for a top job in Europe.

Mr Cardiff today faces a grilling over his suitability for a position at the European Court of Auditors.

He was secretary general of the Department of Finance during the banking crisis. He is also likely to be quizzed on a €3.6bn accounting error which was uncovered in recent weeks.

Minister Noonan said he was the best man for the job.

"Of all the people that were nominated to serve on the European Court of Auditors by Irish governments over the years, Kevin Cardiff is the most qualified technically for the job," he said.