Michael Noonan says he will remain on as finance minister for as long as he is wanted.

But he says it is impossible to tell if he will remain in place for the duration of this government, because nobody knows how long it will last.

Speaking earlier today the minister said he had no further comment to make on his recent ill-health.

But he says he’s happy to stay in cabinet as long as there’s a role for him: “I have nothing to say beyond what I’ve said during the week.

“We don’t know when the next election is, so you’re asking me to make a commitment to a target which nobody knows and when that target will be. So we’ll wait and see.

“I took on a job and I’m doing the job and will continue to do it.”