Noonan backs official in hotels row

Finance Minister Michael Noonan has expressed confidence in the secretary general of his department following controversy over correspondence he had with two British billionaires.

Mr Noonan said John Moran acted properly at all times in his dealings with the Barclay Brothers, who are locked in a legal battle with Irish developer Paddy McKillen over control of a group of London hotels.

He said Mr Moran is “a very innovative secretary general of the Department of Finance and he is doing an excellent job”.