TDs bid to block Aer Lingus sell-off

Government TDs opposed to the sale of Aer Lingus are set to meet unions this week amid growing speculation that the Cabinet is to sign off on the drawn-out €1.3bn deal by the middle of April.

Labour TDs Joe Costello and Robert Dowds confirmed the group will hold an emergency meeting with a handful of other opponents to the agreement after further concessions were made by IAG chief executive Willie Walsh in an attempt to sway support.

Weekend reports suggested that the controversial deal to sell the prized State asset could be finalised at the first Cabinet meeting after Easter, after IAG said it may be willing to lengthen its guarantee over Aer Lingus’s valuable Heathrow slots.