Three senior executives at Aer Lingus have approached the Government seeking approval to to develop an "investment proposal" for the company which may lead to a management buyout.
Mr Willie Walsh, the airline's chief executive, Mr Brian Dunne, chief financial officer and Mr Séamus Kearney, chief operations are believed to be leading the proposal.
The Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, is taking expert advice on the request. He will brief Government over the coming days and will respond to the request and issue guidance to the Board on the matter shortly.
The Minister pointed out that no decision has been made to sell Aer Lingus.
Mr Brennansaid tonightthat the request is a matter for the Government to consider in the context of its ongoing deliberations on the future of the airline, the need for openness and transparency, the avoidance of conflicts of interest and consultation with stakeholders.
The Minister also stated that, pending the appointment of a new chairman to replace Mr Tom Mulcahy who resigned his position from the Board on 29th May 2004, he will be asking one of the existing directors to act as chairman on an interim basis.
SIPTU has expressed serious concern about any bid which would lead to the privatisation of the company.
The union's national industrial secretary, Mr Michael Halpenny, said "The commercial viability ofAer Lingus has been delivered by the sacrifices of the workforce under the survival plan. SIPTU therefore has the most serious reservations in relation to any proposal that could see Aer Lingus, which is essential to the development of the economy, delivered into private hands..."
Mr Halpenny said the union was especially concerned if there is a possibility of control passing to "interests outside this State, or which might lead to indirect control of the company by another airline."