Noonan ‘available’ to serve on Fine Gael front bench

FORMER Fine Gael leader Michael Noonan said yesterday he was available to serve on the party’s front bench if Enda Kenny wanted him to.

The leader of the opposition may announce a new front bench tomorrow. Mr Noonan said: “I would like as long as I continue in the Dáil to make a contribution at local and national level. If I am requested to serve on the front bench, I will serve on the front bench. If not, I am happy to keep doing what I have been doing for the past two years. There won’t be any retributions or I won’t be falling out with anybody over it.”

On serving in government again at a future date he said: “nobody ever says they are not available to serve in government. But I think it is far too far away from the next election to have anybody talking in those terms.”