Ministers say Michael Noonan should not stand aside

Two cabinet colleagues have rejected suggestions Finance Minister Michael Noonan should stand aside, as he is now the subject of an interested party in three separate commissions of inquiry.

Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe and Education Minister Richard Bruton rejected the calls and expressed full confidence in Mr Noonan yesterday.

As confirmed in the terms of reference for the Grace inquiry published this week, Mr Noonan’s response to being lobbied by the foster family in 1996 — weeks before an unexplained U-turn on whether to remove Grace from the home — is to be examined.