Noonan hits out at Lenihan's banking policy 'fiasco'

Fine Gael Finance Spokesperson Michael Noonan said this evening that he does not believe that minister for Finance Brian Lenihan has helped himself become the next Taoiseach after his handling of the banking bailout.

Deputy Noonan was speaking tonight at a function in Limerick,where he said Minister Lenihan had made "a fiasco out of banking policy" in his announcement to the Dáil yesterday.

Earlier today, rumblings emerged in Fianna Fáil that Minister Lenihan could be the next Taoiseach if Brian Cowen were to step down following recent polls calling on him to do so.

“It think Brian Lenihan in his first year and a half as Minister for Finance did a reasonably good job in correcting the public finances,” said Mr Noonan.

“On the other hand, I think he’s made an absolute fiasco out of banking policy.”