Michael Noonan

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Michael Noonan (Irish: Micheál Ó Nuanáin; born 21 May 1943) is an Irish politician and was Leader of the Opposition and Leader of Fine Gael from February 2001 to June 2002. He is currently a Teachta Dála for Limerick East. Noonan previously held a variety of positions in the governments of Garret FitzGerald and John Bruton.

Michael Noonan was born in Limerick. He was educated locally and at University College Dublin where he qualified as a teacher. He taught for many years at the Crescent College in Limerick. He first became involved in politics in 1974 he was elected to Limerick County Council. He served on that authority until 1981. In that year he was elected as a Fine Gael TD for Limerick East. He has been re-elected at every election since.

Although Fine Gael was out of power, Noonan became spokesperson on Education. After just 18 months in the Dáil he was appointed Minister for Justice by Garret FitzGerald As Minister he revealed the illegal phone-tapping of journalists phones, carried out by the Fianna Fáil administration that preceded it in power. In 1986 he became Minister for Industry, Commerce and Trade. He took responsibility of the Energy portfolio when the Labour Party withdrew from the government. Fine Gael lost power in 1987 and were confined to the opposition benches for another seven years. In opposition he became Party spokesperson on Fiannce, and later on Transport, Energy & Communications. Between 1991 and 1994 Noonan served on Limerick County Council again.

In 1994 the 'Rainbow Coalition' was formed and Noonan became Minister for Health. The department was embroiled in a scandal at the time regarding blood products contaminated with hepatitis C virus. He refused to resign and remained as Minister until the election in 1997. Fine Gael lost that election and Noonan became opposition spokesman for Finance. In 2001 Noonan and his colleague, Jim Mitchell, tabled a motion of no confidence in the leader, John Bruton. The motion was successful in ousting Bruton as leader, with Noonan becoming leader of Fine Gael and Jim Mitchell became deputy-leader. Noonan effectively became Leader of the Opposition, a largely ceremonial title.

Noonan was an effective opposition speaker, however, he wasn't so successful in his role as party leader. In the 2002 general election Fine Gael had a disastrous result. The party dropped from 54 TDs to 31 TDs. Noonan resigned as Fine Gael leader on the night of the election. He was replaced by Enda Kenny, the loser to Noonan in his original leadership battle to replace Bruton in 2001. Noonan is still a TD in Dáil Éireann and has served on Kenny's Front bench.

[edit] Political career

Oireachtas
Preceded by Newly created seat in constituency	Fine Gael Teachta Dála for Limerick East 1981–	Succeeded by Current Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Seán Doherty	Minister for Justice 1982–1986	Succeeded by Alan Dukes
Preceded by John Bruton	Minister for Industry & Commerce 1986–1987	Succeeded by Albert Reynolds
Preceded by Michael O'Kennedy	Opposition Spokesperson on Finance 1987–1990	Succeeded by Ivan Yates
Preceded by Michael Woods	Minister for Health 1994–1997	Succeeded by Brian Cowen
Preceded by Charlie McCreevy	Opposition Spokesperson on Finance 1997-2001	Succeeded by Jim Mitchell
Preceded by John Bruton	Leader of the Fine Gael Party 2001–2002	Succeeded by Enda Kenny
	Leader of the Opposition 2001–2002

Leaders of Fine Gael
Eoin O'Duffy (1933–1934) • W. T. Cosgrave (1934–1944) • Richard Mulcahy (1944–1959) • James Dillon (1959–1965) • Liam Cosgrave (1965–1977) • Garret FitzGerald (1977–1987) • Alan Dukes (1987–1990) • John Bruton (1990–2001) • Michael Noonan (2001–2002) • Enda Kenny (2002–)