Union launches effort to save Aer Lingus from privatisation

The state airline's main union, SIPTU, has launched a last ditch effort to keep Air Lingus in public ownership.

Local authorities, city councils and congress all added their voices of opposition to the part-selling of the national carrier.

SIPTU Chief Jack O'Connor said there were other alternatives to privatisation.

"We're advocating the proposition that a state holding company be established to hold the assets of all the commercial semi-state companies, and that they provide a financial vehicle by means of which the development requirements of those companies - including Aer Lingus - could be financed going forward, without resorting to the use of public money.”