A FINE GAEL backbencher has claimed he has more business expertise than his party colleague, finance minister Michael Noonan.

Tax accountant Peter Mathews, who was elected in the Dublin South constituency in February this year, has been accused of breaking the party line after organising briefings for TDs from economic experts such as TCD’s Constantin Gurdgiev. However this week he hit back at the criticisms by saying that the advice Mr Noonan receives from officials is “very light in terms of banking expertise”, Sarah McInerney reports in the Sunday Times (subscription).

Mr Mathews said: “Michael Noonan is a great guy, but he just doesn’t have the experience I have. That’s not his fault, it’s just because I happened to work in the business for many years, so I have more experience.”

Read Sarah McInerney’s full story in the Sunday Times here (subscription) >

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