The Fine Gael leader has said that he is not particularly disappointed with today's national poll, which shows the party is down 5% on the last General Election. Mr Noonan pointed out that the poll was taken before what he described as Jim McDaid's appalling remarks on suicide and Bertie Ahern's embrace of Padraig Flynn.
Following publication of the first national opinion poll, Fine Gael front bencher Brian Hayes said that Opposition parties now had a clear momentum in their favour.
His party colleague, Nora Owen, turned the focus on health. Mrs Owen claimed that Ireland had become a waiting list society, with huge numbers waiting in the health services and for housing. She said that there was a lot of pain and a lot of anger among voters about these issues.
Meanwhile, Mr Noonan said that he would not accept Michael Lowry as a member of the Fine Gael party if the former minister sought a return to the fold.
He stated that he would not seek Mr Lowry's vote or support to secure his position as Taoiseach.
He added that independents in the Dáil voted with the government, on important issues and if Mr Lowry voted for him then so be it.
He was speaking in Mr Lowry's hometown of Thurles in Tipperary North, where Noel Coonan is contesting the election for Fine Gael.
