Michael Noonan (Fine Gael politician)

Michael Noonan
Noonan in 2017
Minister for Finance
In office 9 March 2011 – 14 June 2017
Taoiseach	Enda Kenny
Preceded by	Brian Lenihan
Succeeded by	Paschal Donohoe
Leader of the Opposition
In office 9 February 2001 – 5 June 2002
President	Mary McAleese
Taoiseach	Bertie Ahern
Preceded by	John Bruton
Succeeded by	Enda Kenny
Leader of Fine Gael
In office 9 February 2001 – 5 June 2002
Deputy	Jim Mitchell
Preceded by	John Bruton
Succeeded by	Enda Kenny
Minister for Health
In office 15 December 1994 – 26 June 1997
Taoiseach	John Bruton
Preceded by	Michael Woods
Succeeded by	Brian Cowen
Minister for Industry and Commerce
In office 14 February 1986 – 10 March 1987
Taoiseach	Garret FitzGerald
Preceded by	John Bruton (Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism)
Succeeded by	Albert Reynolds
Minister for Energy
In office 20 January 1987 – 10 March 1987
Taoiseach	Garret FitzGerald
Preceded by	Dick Spring
Succeeded by	Ray Burke
Minister for Justice
In office 14 December 1982 – 14 February 1986
Taoiseach	Garret FitzGerald
Preceded by	Seán Doherty
Succeeded by	Alan Dukes
Teachta Dála
In office February 2011 – February 2020
Constituency	Limerick City
In office June 1981 – February 2011
Constituency	Limerick East
Personal details
Born	(1943-05-21) 21 May 1943 (age 81) Limerick, Ireland
Political party	Fine Gael
Spouse	Florence Knightley ​ ​ (m. 1969; died 2012)​
Children	5
Alma mater	University College Dublin St Patrick's College, Dublin

Michael Noonan (born 21 May 1943) is an Irish former Fine Gael politician who served as Minister for Finance from 2011 to 2017, Leader of the Opposition and Leader of Fine Gael from 2001 to 2002, Minister for Health from 1994 to 1997, Minister for Industry and Commerce from 1986 to 1987, Minister for Energy from January 1987 to March 1987 and Minister for Justice from 1982 to 1986. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) from 1981 to 2020.^[1]

Noonan had been a member of every Fine Gael cabinet since 1982, serving in the cabinets of Garret FitzGerald, John Bruton and Enda Kenny. During these terms of office he held the positions of Justice, Energy, Industry and Commerce, Health and Finance. When Fine Gael lost power after the 1997 general election, Noonan remained an important figure in the party when he became Opposition Spokesperson for Finance.

He succeeded John Bruton as Leader of Fine Gael and Leader of the Opposition in 2001, however, he resigned following Fine Gael's disastrous showing at the 2002 general election. After eight years as a backbencher, during which time he served as Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny appointed Noonan to his front bench in 2010, to his former portfolio of Spokesperson for Finance.