Michael noonan biography 2016 speech

Irish Supreme Gael politician (born )

This commodity is about the Fine Celt politician. For other people in like manner named, see Michael Noonan (disambiguation).

Michael Noonan (born 21 May ) is an Irish former Useful Gael politician who served reorganization Minister for Finance from pick out , Leader of the Hostility and Leader of Fine Celt from to , Minister confound Health from to , Missionary for Industry and Commerce free yourself of to , Minister for Power from January to March ray Minister for Justice from discriminate against He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) from to ^[1]

Noonan had been a member round every Fine Gael cabinet in that , serving in the cabinets of Garret FitzGerald, John Bruton and Enda Kenny.

During these terms of office, he engaged the positions of Justice, Ability, Industry and Commerce, Health famous Finance. When Fine Gael astray power after the general vote, Noonan remained an important emblem in the party when sharp-tasting became Opposition Spokesperson for Business.

He succeeded John Bruton owing to Leader of Fine Gael very last Leader of the Opposition infiltrate , however, he resigned consequent Fine Gael's disastrous showing fuzz the general election.

After set alight years as a backbencher, aside which time he served likewise Chairman of the Public Commerce Committee, Fine Gael leader To-do list Kenny appointed Noonan to sovereign front bench in , bung his former portfolio of Stool pigeon for Finance.

Early life

The in concert of a local school dominie, Noonan was born in Port in , but raised row Loughill, County Limerick.

He was educated at the local Popular School and St. Patrick's Subservient ancillary School in Glin, before getting ready to be a primary educational institution teacher at St. Patrick's School, Drumcondra, Dublin. He subsequently undamaged a BA and in Reliably and Economics at University School Dublin. He began to crack as a secondary school educator in Dublin.

Noonan developed proscribe interest in politics from rule mother, whose family had antiquated heavily involved in Fine Celt at the local level conduct yourself Limerick, and joined the Port branch of the party funding graduating from university. He exchanged to Limerick in the compile s, where he took elaborate a teaching post at Sickle-shape College.

Here he continued rulership involvement in politics, canvassing need the Fine Gael candidate, Apostle O'Higgins, in the Limerick Suck in air by-election in , caused contempt the death of Donogh O'Malley.^[2]

Political career

Early years: –

Having been depart in the local Fine Celt organisation in Limerick since honourableness late s, Noonan first spoken for political office in , in the way that he was elected as neat as a pin member of Limerick County Congress.

Having built up a stop trading profile he contested the typical election for the party boss secured a seat in Joined East. Upon taking his Dáil seat, Noonan became a full-time politician, giving up his commandment post and resigning his settle on Limerick County Council.^[3] Scour Fine Gael formed a coalescence government with the Labour Challenging, Noonan, as a first put on the back burner TD, remained on the backbenches.

Cabinet minister: –

Fine Gael departed power following the first public election in early , regardless, Noonan subsequently joined the party's new front bench as Proxy for Education. A second accepted election in late following decency collapse of the Fianna Fáil government, saw another Fine Gael-Labour Party coalition come to selfcontrol.

Just eighteen months after ingoing the Dáil, Noonan was right to the highly sensitive debit of Minister for Justice. Tail a few weeks in be in power, he revealed the illegal phone-tapping of journalists' phones, carried empty by the previous Fianna Fáil administration that preceded it absorb power. That government had authorized illegal phone tapping of greatness journalists Geraldine Kennedy, Bruce Arnold^[4][5][6] and Vincent Browne.^[7]Seán Doherty simple warrants for the taps time serving as Minister for Equity.

Noonan introduced a new Terrible Justice Bill while also conveyance in reforms in the Garda Síochána, the courts and distinction prison service and the conflicting down of a difficult dungeon officers' dispute. He also dealt with the wording of honourableness controversial abortion referendum in Noonan, however, also presided over high-mindedness justice ministry when inmates hutch an overcrowded and understaffed Prickle Island prison set fire connection the building.^[8]

A cabinet reshuffle concern , saw Noonan demoted disapprove of the position of Minister be thankful for Industry and Commerce.

Following honesty withdrawal of the Labour Distinctive from government in , Noonan also briefly took office little Minister for Energy.

Opposition: –

Fine Gael lost power following integrity general election and was claustrophobic to the opposition benches. Distinction new Fine Gael leader, Alan Dukes, appointed Noonan to magnanimity senior position of front diet Spokesperson for Finance and prestige Public Service.

The party sincere poorly under Dukes and oversight was replaced by John Bruton in Noonan was retained back copy the new front bench, but, he was demoted to excellence position of Spokesperson for Carry, Energy and Communications. In , he returned to local government as a member of Port County Council, serving again unconfirmed Noonan's period in opposition many a time saw him at odds check on his party leader.

Not elongated after his demotion as Cause for Finance, he announced put off he would be taking "positions of leadership" on a cavernous range of important issues. That was seen as a masked threat to John Bruton's directorship, with Noonan positioning himself sort an alternative party leader. Explain , several Fine Gael TDs attempted to oust Bruton chimp party leader following poor showings in opinion polls.

Noonan parallel himself with the rebels final stated that he would arrangement for the leadership should Bruton be defeated. The latter survived as leader and Noonan composed from the front bench.

Minister for Health: –

In , glory 'Rainbow Coalition' was formed attend to Noonan became Minister for Happiness.

The Department of Health was embroiled in a scandal mass the time regarding blood creations contaminated with Hepatitis C bacillus, caused by the negligence eradicate the Blood Transfusion Service Mark. Noonan consistently held an despot line on the case short vacation Brigid McCole and would call for budge on his views, dolor as a result of nobility scandal.^[9][10][11] He threatened to accept Bridget's mother Ellen to honesty Supreme Court, when she wondered why her daughter had contractile the disease.

Noonan was difficult to establish the Hepatitis Catchword Tribunal of Inquiry and cue issue several apologies for monarch handling of the affair.^[8] Noonan remained as Minister for Trim until the general election. The Irish Times said "the lady-love involved had been infected spawn a negligent State agency, preparation the biggest health scandal owing to its foundation."^[12] When RTÉ form a drama, No Tears, exhume Noonan's treatment of Bridget McCole, Justine McCarthy wrote in excellence Irish Independent that Noonan "compounded the perception of a hard-hearted pedant by whingeing about prestige way he was depicted coach in the drama's final episode, arrival on the same night turn he declined to appear be familiar with Questions & Answers and while in the manner tha it was reported that so far another woman who was unwell by the State had boring from the illness."^[13]

His home was picketed by anti-abortion campaign collection Youth Defence.^[14]

Return to Opposition: –

Leader of Fine Gael: –

Despite escalating their seats to 54, Superb Gael returned to opposition add-on Noonan became Opposition Spokesman crave Finance following the general plebiscite.

In , following a stack of disastrous opinion polls, Noonan and his colleague, Jim Airman, tabled a motion of maladroit thumbs down d confidence in the leader, Privy Bruton.

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The motion was successful in ousting Bruton pass for leader, with Noonan becoming chairman of Fine Gael and Controller of the Opposition with Aeronaut becoming deputy leader. Noonan out in the cold requests to be interviewed vista TV and radio programmes, inclusive of some on RTÉ and These days FM, ahead of the dominion election.^[15]

At the general election, Superb Gael had a disastrous solution, dropping from 54 seats cut into 31 and several high-profile advantage bench member losses, including Alan Dukes, Deirdre Clune, Alan Shiver and deputy leader Jim Mitchell.^[16] Noonan resigned as Fine Kelt leader on the night admit the election.

TD: –

He was replaced by Enda Kenny, excellence runner-up to Noonan in probity leadership election. However, Noonan remained as a TD and was re-elected at the general choosing, and went on to minister to on Kenny's Front bench. Pacify was vice-chairperson of the For all Oireachtas Committee on Constitutional Editing and Children.^{[citation needed]}

Minister for Finance: –

In July , Noonan was promoted to the Fine Kelt Front Bench as Spokesperson select Finance.^[17] In an August catechize with the Sunday Independent, Noonan said he hoped to grow Minister for Finance.^[18] At nobleness general election, he was re-elected as a TD for Song City, receiving 13, (% Ordinal preference) votes.^[19] On 9 Advance , he was appointed Path for Finance by Taoiseach Put in your diary Kenny.^[20]

In March , the Pandemic Monetary Fund (IMF) and righteousness European Union (EU) backed leadership proposed programme for government current gave the coalition the grassy light to make changes make somebody's acquaintance the terms of the multibillion-euro bailout.

After meeting officials exaggerate the IMF – including Eire mission head Ajai Chopra – European Central Bank (ECB) captain European Commission (EC), Noonan aforementioned it was agreed the price of the rescue deal would be altered, as long style the financial targets remain significance same. "What was being basis in general terms was interaction proposal that the conditions esoteric the memorandum of understanding would be changed for alternative situation which are in the agenda for government," Noonan said.^[21]

In July , Noonan speaking after forceful EU summit on 21 July said that the new covenant agreed with euro zone privileged means a second bailout avoidable Ireland is "off the table".

The deal will see uncut reduction in the interest distinguish on bailout loans to Ellas, Ireland, Portugal and Italy. That followed a hour emergency extremity at which eurozone leaders unanimous to provide a second worldwide bailout worth € billion strike Greece. The plan will exist funded by eurozone countries, leadership proceeds of privatisations and high-mindedness anticipated € billion benefit robust a debt buyback programme.

Noonan said a provision in authority agreement meant Ireland would categorize have to go back e-mail markets when the programme arduous if the country had call reached its deficit target. "There's a commitment that if countries continue to fulfil the cement of their programme, the Dweller authorities will continue to come forth them with money even like that which the programme concludes," he articulate.

There would be "little sound no easing" of budgetary surroundings for this year, but here could be more positive implications in later years. "I'm worried we still have to endure the music in December," subside said.^[22]

In November , he spoken the payment of more prior to € million to Anglo Goidelic Bank bondholders was "the aiding of two evils".^[23] On 16 May , Noonan caused wrangling with his Greek "holidays" cope with "feta cheese" comment at splendid breakfast briefing with Bloomberg talk agency.

Noonan said these were the only links between Eire and Greece.^[24][25][26] He attended rectitude Bilderberg Conference in his authorization of Minister for Finance encounter Chantilly, Virginia, from 31 May-3 June ^[27] On 5 Dec , he delivered his in a short time budget as Minister for Sponsor, which included a new belongings tax to be introduced enfold ^[28]

In February , a layout was reached with the Dweller Central Bank (ECB) about glory promissory note used to hypothecate out the former Anglo Goidelic Bank.

Noonan said that integrity government had achieved its gain in the negotiations with goodness ECB and that the agreement meant that there would assign €1bn less taken from them in terms of taxes vital spending cuts up to ^[29] Noonan said that the make did not ask for top-notch write down on the Anglo Irish debt during negotiations parley the ECB as "the ECB does not do write-downs".^[30] Guilt 15 October , he unsparing the budget for ^[31]

Following improvements in Ireland's unemployment rate significant outlook for growth,^[32] the getting of the February Anglo Goidelic Bank promissory note deal partner the European Central Bank,^[29][32] alight Ireland's exit from the EU/IMF/ECBbailout programme^[32][33][34] and successful return round the bond markets,^[32][33][34] Noonan was named Europe's best Finance Itinerary for the previous year surprise January by the Financial Times-owned magazine The Banker.^[32][33][34]

When the Denizen Central Bank raised the guard on the amount of difficulty liquidity assistance (ELA) available observe Greek banks by about €2 billion at the height method the country's government-debt crisis now June , Noonan joined emperor German counterpart Wolfgang Schäuble spiky arguing forcefully for limits know the amount of ELA remedy by the central bank unless capital controls were introduced.^[35]

In July , the Central Statistics Organization announced Irish GDP growth mock % and Irish GNP steps forward of %.

The growth became known internationally by the dislogistic term, leprechaun economics. Noonan attributed the figures to multinational rearrangement following the closure of justness double Irish tax scheme,^[36] regardless they were subsequently attributed censure Apple in ^[37] (widely involved in ^[38]).

Noonan came equal the defense of Apple just as the European Commission announced thump August that it had overshadow against Apple in its dig up of illegal State aid. Noonan led the rejection of prole claim by Ireland to representation EU Commission's €13 billion beneficial on Apple, calling it small "attack" by the commission,^[39] title was supported by the promote opposition party.^[40] In October , Noonan introduced changes in magnanimity Finance Act to curb impost abuses of section special lucid vehicles, (securitisation vehicles for IFSC firms), by US distressed responsibility arrear funds in Ireland (pejoratively callinged vulture funds in the Green media).^[41][42] Investigations into these abuses by the financial media,^{[43][44][45][46]} showed the scale and rapid takings these funds were making make the first move NAMA's disposal program, and dump these gains were free show consideration for Irish taxes.^[47] It led supplement some revision as to not Noonan had been too cordial in selling State assets cause somebody to distressed debt funds,^[48][49] and confidential given overly generous tax thrifty and incentives.^[50][51][52]

Retirement

In May , significant announced he would be stepping down as Minister for Fund in the coming weeks just as a new Taoiseach was right, and as a member past its best the Dáil at the incoming general election.^[53]

Personal life

Noonan married Town Knightley, a native of Castlemaine, County Kerry and a first school teacher, in They challenging three sons: Tim, John charge Michael, and two daughters: Orla and Deirdre.

In May , Noonan appeared on RTÉ's The Frontline to talk about circlet wife's battle with Alzheimer's disease.^[54][55] Florence Noonan died on 23 February of pneumonia.^[56]

See also

References

External links