You've just invoked TINA and given Noonan credit for an economy that's recovering in spite of, not because of him.

Even now, Noonan has gone against EC, ECB, IMF, OECD and the Irish Fiscal council advice in reflating the economy faster than they would like and have actively pressed for.

Hanging (an election next year) has a way of concentrating the mind ...

But fundamentally, there's nothing in the standard EU wisdom that Noonan disagrees with - he's already talking about how we can cut taxes for the well off to encourage emigrants to return.