Cabinet can ‘prevent’ Aer Lingus takeover

THE Government remains in a position to protect Aer Lingus from a hostile takeover by Ryanair, Finance Minister Brian Cowen insisted yesterday.

But the opposition rounded on the Government for “botching” the privatisation of the national airline and failing to see the Ryanair approach coming.

In the Dáil, Labour leader Pat Rabbitte said the country was heading towards “a single private monopoly in the aviation sector” because of the “mess” created by the Government.