The department was embroiled in a scandal at the time regarding blood products contaminated with Hepatitis C virus, caused by the negligence of the Blood Transfusion Service Board.
On January 8th 2014, it was announced that Ireland's Michael Noonan was awarded "Best finance minister in Europe".
Michael Jackson | Order of St Michael and St George | Michael Bloomberg | Michael Jordan | Michael Caine | Michael | Michael Palin | Michael Moore | George Michael | Michael Dukakis | Michael W. Smith | Michael Douglas | Michael Bolton | Michael Schumacher | Michael J. Fox | Michael Bublé | Michael Faraday | Michael Moorcock | Michael Kors | Michael Brecker | Michael Bay | Michael Nyman | Michael Phelps | Michael Ondaatje | John Michael Montgomery | St. Michael | Michael Landon | Saint Michael, Barbados | Michael Somare | Live! with Kelly and Michael |
Peter Barry, the deputy leader of the party, refused to announce his candidacy immediately, however, he eventually entered the leadership race as Michael Noonan refused to go stand due to a lack of support.
In Ireland, Jerry Kelly (George Murphy) marries his sweetheart, Nellie Noonan (Judy Garland) over the objections of her ne'er-do-well father, Michael Noonan (Charles Winninger), who swears never to speak to Jerry again, even though he reluctantly accompanies the newlyweds to America, where Jerry becomes a policeman, and all three become citizens.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Finance Minister Michael Noonan, Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore and Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin were reportedly furious with Prof Honohan's failure to close the deal as had been expected.