The board of Aer Lingus met yesterday to consider restructuring proposals. Its members are :

Tom Mulcahy: The former chief executive of AIB Group, Mr Tom Mulcahy, was appointed chairman of Aer Lingus on August 29th this year. He succeeded the late Mr Bernie Cahill, who died suddenly on August 17th last. Mr Mulcahy retired from the State's largest bank in July after seven years in its highest post.

Willie Clarke: Mr Clarke was appointed to the board as an elected director in May 1998. He works in the Dublin cargo terminal.

Rose Hynes: Ms Hynes was appointed to the board in April 1997. She is an executive vice-president and head of the commercial department of Debis AirFinance and is a director of AerCo Limited.

John Keane: Dr Keane was appointed to the board in December 1998. He is a consultant ophthalmic physician with the Midland Health Board. Dr Keane is a former member of the VHI board.

Joan Loughnane: Ms Loughnane was appointed to the board as an elected director in May 1998. She is a member of Aer Lingus cabin crew and was chairwoman of the cabin crew committee from May 1996 to April 1998. In February of this year, Ms Loughnane made a complaint of sexual harassment against the company's then chief executive, Mr Michael Foley. It was the first of two complaints alleging sexual harassment against Mr Foley. He was sacked after Aer Lingus upheld the complaints against him.

John O'Donovan: Mr O'Donovan, a chartered accountant, was formerly finance director of Carberry Milk Products. He has been group finance director with Aer Lingus since February 1995 and was appointed to the board in July 2000. In June 2001, he assumed the role of group chief executive. He recently announced his decision to leave Aer Lingus to become group chief financial officer with Bank of Ireland. Mr O'Donovan will remain on the Aer Lingus board until the end of October.

Dermot Rafferty: Captain Rafferty was appointed to the board as an elected director in February 2000. He is an Airbus A330 captain.

Mick Sweeney: Mr Sweeney was appointed to the board as an elected director in January 1999. He is employed in the network management department, where he is a senior schedules analyst.

Chris Wall: A long-time friend and former election agent of the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, Mr Chris Wall was appointed to the board in December 1998. He is a business consultant.

Desmond Richardson: Mr Richardson was appointed to the board in November 1997. He is an executive director of the Marlborough Group. Mr Richardson is another close friend of Mr Ahern and has been a major fund-raiser for the party.

Patrick Wright: Mr Wright was appointed to the board in December 1992. He is chairman of the RT╔ Authority and chairman of Aon Insurance Brokers. He is also a director of the Jefferson Smurfit Group and Anglo Irish Bank.

In May 1998, Mr Wright offered to step down from the board following the departure of the then chief executive Mr Gary McGann to become chief financial officer of the Jefferson Smurfit Group. The then chairman Mr Bernie Cahill did not accept it.