At the weekend, Fine Gael was asked by reporters from various newspapers if it would accept the idea of a "rotating" Taoiseach in the event that it were presented with the possibility of forming a coalition with Labour after the election.
The party replied that there would be no preconditions to negotiations between Fine Gael and Labour if the figures presented the possibility of such an alliance. On the other hand, it was pointed out, it is normal for the leader of the party with the largest number of seats to be Taoiseach.
Is that a "yes" or a "no" to the question of rotation? Different journalists took differing interpretations but Mr Noonan's "no preconditions" clearly leave the possibility on the table.
The concept of "rotating" the leadership of the Government must be fraught with peril. It was that when it was first mooted by Dick Spring in negotiations after the 1992 general election. It did not happen and Mr Spring got a half-way house - a new Office of the Tánaiste instead. Mary Harney modified these arrangements when the present administration came to office.
Mr Spring's alliance with Fianna Fáil foundered after a period of increasing instability. It is possible only to guess at the additional stresses, strains and instability which would have come into play if an agreement were in place for rotating the leadership of the Government.
The Government which takes office after the coming election is going to need all the stability it can get. The 29th Dáil is likely to include additional independent deputies and it is possible that some of the smaller parties - Sinn Féin and the Greens - may gain seats. It may well be - whatever alignment emerges among the main parties - that the incoming Government will be dependent on a variety of independents and minority interests to hold its position.
As the present administration enters its last few months of office it is not difficult to catalogue the important tasks that have been fudged or dodged in order to keep the existing independent deputies onside.
Crucial issues will face the incoming Government: Nice; the management of an economy which will hopefully be in recovery; the national development plan; health; the environment the equitable distribution of resources and earnings. It must not be an administration which is hamstrung from the start, forced into compromises and evasions and constantly watching to see who may be threatening to bring it down.
Any Government will be challenged by the agenda which must be faced. But one formed on the basis that it will switch leaders half-way through its term would be hobbled from the start. The notion should be put aside both by Mr Noonan and by the Labour leader, Mr Quinn.
There may be many shortcomings in the present Fianna Fáil - PD administration and it rightly stands accused of failure to deliver across many issues. But it has been characterised by endurance and stability. If those qualities were not present, there can be little doubt that today's problems would be even greater. Political expediency may cause rotating leadership to become a reality. But it would be bad governance for the State.