Aer Lingus sale could boost public coffers: Ibec

Employers’ lobby group Ibec has said a sale of Aer Lingus could benefit the State by providing extra funds to invest in essential public infrastructure projects.

While careful not to endorse a deal before more concrete terms emerge from IAG, Ibec’s director of policy and corporate affairs, Mary-Rose Burke, told the Oireachtas Transport Committee yesterday that there is a risk of looking at the issue without considering the upside potential.

“With regard to Ireland’s public finances, if a formal offer does emerge in excess of €2.50 per share, this would represent more than 60 times the annual dividend paid to the Government over recent years,” she said.