Fine Gael has called on the Government to ask the EU to allow it to financially support Aer Lingus after the dramatic downturn in the aviation industry after the US attacks.
Under EU competition rules it is illegal for the Government to provide support for the airline but Fine Gael argues these are exceptional circumstances.
A spokesperson for the party said the EU needed to put this rule on hold or add a clause allowing such action under exceptional circumstances.
"It is not in the Government’s interest to watch their asset crumble in front of them."
Fine Gael TD Mr Denis Naughten said Aer Lingus was vital to the commercial life of Ireland and that it was not Government’s interest to watch their "asset crumble front of them."
"The US is supporting the American aviation industry and the Ministers for Public Enterprise and Finance should move motions at meetings of EU Ministers to support Aer Lingus and other national airlines in this time of difficulty in the industry," he said.
The party has put forward a private member’s motion calling on the Government to put pressure on the EU to relax the rules but it is unlikely to have much success with the EU reluctant to create any loopholes in it competition legislation.
The Fine Gael motion came as British Airways announced