Noonan denies row with Brendan Howlin over Central Bank Governor

The Finance Minister Michael Noonan is denying he had a row with the Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin over the appointment of a new Governor for the Central Bank.

Professor Philip Lane was given the job at the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

The other leading candidate was Robert Watt who is secretary general at Brendan Howlin's department.

Michael Noonan says there was no row between himself and Minister Howlin.

“No, no, no, he just spoke up for the qualities of Robert Watt and of course I would agree with the qualities that Robert Watt has. Robert Watt has played a very strong part in the Irish recovery as secretary general in the Department of Public Expenditure," Mr Noonan said.

“We were fortunate to have two excellent candidates, but we weren’t going to appoint two, we had to choose between them. I let the process do the choosing for me.”