DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ireland's finance minister on Monday said he did not expect the resignation of Allied Irish Banks (>> Allied Irish Banks PLC) (AIB) Chief Executive David Duffy to damage the government's attempts to sell part of the bank.

AIB said on Monday that Duffy was stepping down to take over National Australia Bank's (>> National Australia Bank Ltd.) UK business, just days after the Irish government appointed advisers to begin the AIB share sale.

The finance minister, Michael Noonan, said Duffy would leave the bank in six months' time.

"I don't think it will set back what we started two weeks ago," Noonan said.

(Reporting by Conor Humphries; editing by Jason Neely)

Stocks treated in this article : Allied Irish Banks PLC, National Australia Bank Ltd.