Taoiseach to outline Aer Lingus stance in speech to EU officials

The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is expected to outline the Government's opposition to any Ryanair takeover of Aer Lingus during an address to the European Commission in Brussels today.

Mr Ahern is expected to tell the commissioners why he believes the takeover would be harmful to competition in the aviation market and consumers in general.

The matter is also likely to come up for discussion during a meeting between the Taoiseach and EC president Jose Manual Barroso.