Noonan wades into row over culture boss

Finance Minister Michael Noonan has come out in support of the beleaguered CEO of Limerick City of Culture 2014, Patricia Ryan, whose appointment earlier this month has caused a storm of protest.

Limerick’s city manager, Conn Murray, was strongly criticised at Monday night’s meeting of Limerick City Council for making the appointment without advertising the position.

It has emerged that over the first six months of this year Ms Ryan worked on a consultancy basis for a total of 54 days at a rate of €700 a day — giving her earnings of €37,800.