Coveney: Aer Lingus bid not persuasive enough

Fresh doubts have been expressed over IAG’s pursuit of Aer Lingus after one of the Cabinet’s most senior ministers said the current offer is not sufficient for the Government to part with its stake.

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney yesterday said the bid on the table from Willie Walsh’s International Airlines Group (IAG) was “not persuasive enough”, casting doubt over the viability of the proposed takeover.

Fine Gael members are divided over the sale of the Government’s 25.1% stake in the airline, the Cork South-Central TD added.