The Dáil has voted in favour of selling off the State’s share in Aer Lingus as part of a €1.4bn takeover bid by International Airlines Group (IAG).

The Dáil has voted to approve the sale of the Government's remaining stake in Aer Lingus.

A Labour TD has said he cannot vote to support the sale of Aer Lingus in the Dáil this afternoon.

Aer Lingus chief executive Stephen Kavanagh has said that the vast majority of savings identified in the confidential NYRAS report relate to contract and procurement efficiencies.

The Dáil is set to vote on the sale of the Government's stake in Aer Lingus today.

The announcement by Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe that the Government intends to support IAG’s bid for Aer Lingus did not come as a surprise to staff at the airline, or to the unions representing them.

Travel journalist Eoghan Corry answers some of the questions raised by the proposed IAG-Aer Lingus deal

FOLLOWING two days of sterile debate, nobody should be surprised when the Dáil votes today to sell off the Government’s 25% stake in Aer Lingus to the British airline investment group IAG. Sterile because this crucial debate began nearly nine years ago when the other 75%was sold by the previous Fianna Fáil administration in October 2006.

Sinn Féin has said the Government should hold a referendum before agreeing to the sale of Aer Lingus.

The Taoiseach Enda Kenny has admitted he did not see a secret report prepared for Aer Lingus on potential jobs losses as a result of the sale of the airline.

The Dáil will begin a two-day debate today on the €1.4 billion takeover of Aer Lingus.

The Government has given the green light for its sale in Aer Lingus, paving the way for what it claims will be extra jobs for the airline, guarantees on the protection of slots and more services for passengers.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has moved to calm concerns about the potential sale of Aer Lingus and insisted any deal will be done in the “best interests of the whole country”.

Unions and business groups have clashed over the Government’s decision to sell the State’s 25% stake in Aer Lingus after the long-awaited move was finally announced by Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe yesterday.

THE Government knows that selling its share in Aer Lingus will be politically tricky, and will require careful handling. In holding the issue over to yesterday’s cabinet meeting, and in moving on in the afterglow of last weekend’s same-sex marriage referendum win, it is managing its exit from the airline business with as little political hassle as can be hoped for.

International Airlines Group (IAG) looks set to take over Aer Lingus after the Government gave the green light to a €1.4bn bid.

The Taoiseach has said the Government will make a decision in the next few hours on the sale of the State's 25% shareholding in Aer Lingus.

The Impact union is warning industrial action could be on the cards, if it does not get commitments on Aer Lingus jobs.

The Cabinet is expected to take a decision on the sale of Aer Lingus within the next week or so.

The proposed sale of the State's shareholding in Aer Lingus will be on the agenda at a meeting of the Impact trade union today.

Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe is remaining tight-lipped on the status of the IAG bid for the Government’s stake in Aer Lingus.

The Tánaiste Joan Burton says she doesn't expect a decision on the future of the Government's stake in Aer Lingus "for some time".

IAG's takeover bid for Aer Lingus could be a step closer to completion this morning.

Virgin Atlantic has warned the proposed takeover of Aer Lingus could jeopardise long haul connections through Britain and reduce flight options for Irish passengers.

Adding extra conditions to the sale of Aer Lingus to IAG may not be enough to avoid a monopoly on the route, Virgin Atlantic has said.