Following elections in Ireland, Mr Michael Noonan was appointed Minister of Finance on 9 March 2011, succeeding Mr Lenihan. He also becomes EIB Governor for the Republic of Ireland.

Born in 1943 in Limerick, Mr Noonan is a politician of the Fine Gael party, currently serving as Minister of Finance in the cabinet of Mr Enda Kenny.

He has been a Member of the Irish Parliament since 1981.

He was Minister for Justice from 1982 to 1986. Between 1986 and 1987, he held two different ministerial posts, that of Minister for Industry, Commerce and Trade and Minister for Energy respectively. He was also Minister of Health between 1994 and 1997.

Mr Noonan was his party’s front bench spokeperson on Finance from 1997 to 2001 and again since July 2010.

Mr Noonan attended University College Dublin and qualified as a teacher.