"This is not being dictated by any political agenda. It looks now like the earliest opportunity will be November, December, and I'm not going to rush it. I don't need to sell any bit of AIB before the election," Noonan told national broadcaster RTE.

"All I need to do is show that it has value. If I'm still there after the election, I will dispose of it when I am convinced that I'm getting the best return for the taxpayer," Noonan said, adding he would like to serve a second term as finance minister if asked.

(Reporting by Padraic Halpin; editing by Jason Neely)