Michael Noonan ready for backbench craic

As he faces into his last day in Cabinet, the Minister for Finance yesterday tore up his ministerial scripts and let rip with the famous Michael Noonan wit.

He spoke of looking forward to enjoying the craic in the Dáil away from the intensity of the frontline.

“I have another bit to do now as a contrary backbencher from Wednesday until I leave politics at the next election,” he said at the opening of the new emergency department at University Hospital Limerick.