The Finance Minister Michael Noonan has confirmed he suffered from pneumonia over the Christmas period.

Mr Noonan had already confirmed he underwent surgery over the Christmas break to remove some fluid from his chest.

The 72-year-old was also treated for cancer last year, and he underwent surgery last February for an eye condition, after a surgeon spotted it on TV.

However, he says he is now well recovered and back focusing on his work, saying that he had a chest infection that didn't respond to antibiotics, but that "I'm back on the road again now".