Noonan gets demoted . . .

Shortly before noon on Wednesday, the Department of Finance issued a routine press release from international banking minister Simon Harris. Nothing remarkable, just some harmlessly boring missive about the funds industry.

It raised a bit of a chuckle around these parts, however, when it referred to the “Minister of State for Finance, Michael Noonan”. I’d say the Limerick bruiser was none too delighted to be demoted to the rank of mini-minister alongside his more junior, if upwardly mobile, Wicklow colleague.

Within three minutes, the release was reissued, restoring Noonan’s correct title and, presumably, his political dignity.