Getting to the heart of the ‘Noonan effect’

WHEN a recent opinion poll showed Fine Gael had returned to top spot ahead of Labour as the most popular party in the country, some political observers immediately attributed the recovery to “the Noonan effect”.

This was because of the impact made by Michael Noonan since being appointed Fine Gael finance spokesman in the wake of the botched heave against party leader Enda Kenny in the summer.

It has prompted the bookmakers to install Mr Noonan as favourite to be Finance Minister in the next government, even though, in a Fine Gael-Labour coalition, Labour would expect that portfolio if Enda Kenny were Taoiseach.