Finance Minister Michael Noonan was an "inspirational" teacher, with a "dry wit" who took regular trips to Shakespeare's birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon, says a former student of his who is now a top technology executive in Beijing.

Lawrence Michael McDonald from Castleconnell, Co Limerick, is head of operations for Ericsson Technologies and was a pupil of the minister in the early 80s, when Michael Noonan was a secondary-school English teacher.

Mr McDonald left Ireland in 1984, moving to Hong Kong, and is now running Ericsson in Beijing. The former pupil and master were briefly reunited at an event in the Irish Embassy, to mark President Higgins' state visit to China. Mr Noonan is accompanying the president on the trip, which is heavily focused on trade and business.

Mr McDonald told Newstalk that Ireland’s reputation has improved abroad:

Shona Murray, Beijing