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Government rules out sale of Aer Lingus stake to Ryanair

Transport Minister Leo Varadkar said the Cabinet would have concerns about connectivity, competitiveness and employment.

THE GOVERNMENT HAS ruled out the possibility of the State selling its stake in Aer Lingus to Ryanair.

Following discussions at a Cabinet meeting earlier today, the coalition said that although it remains committed to the sale of its 25 per cent share in Aer Lingus, it would have to be “at the right time under the right conditions”.

In a statement, Transport Minister Leo Varadkar said the Government was “not prepared” to support any offer that would “significantly undermine connectivity or competitiveness for Ireland”.

“Based on what is now in the public domain, the Ryanair remedies package does not satisfy our concerns,” he continued.

“Obviously, the European Commission will make its own decision in its own time, but we do not see any benefit to Ireland in what has been reported.”

This is Ryanair’s third takeover bid for rival Aer Lingus. The budget airline already owns 29.82 per cent of the issued share capital of Aer Lingus but has failed in its two previous attempts to purchase a majority holding in the Irish airline.

In July it made a €694 million bid for Aer Lingus, which has urged its shareholders to reject the offer. Ryanair believes its remedies package will assuage any competition fears held by European authorities.

The company said it had no comment to make about Varadkar’s statement, but added, “Since the Government owns just 25 per cent of Aer Lingus is has no power to block Ryanair’s offer, which can still be successfully completed if we acquire a shareholding of 50 per cent or more.”

The progress of Ryanair’s offer is subject to the outcome of a current EU competition review.

READ: Ryanair profits up as it offers ‘unprecedented remedies’ for Aer Lingus bid

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65 Comments
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    Mute Eleanor Farrell
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    Jan 30th 2015, 7:11 AM

    Great idea! Good luck Ciara and Theya Lingerie

    226
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    Mute Resel
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    Jan 30th 2015, 9:56 AM

    Fair play

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    Mute Sum Yung Guy
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    Jan 30th 2015, 10:58 AM

    Brest of luck

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    Mute orla
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    Mute Jason
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    Jan 30th 2015, 8:47 AM

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    Mute Debbie Darling
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    Jan 30th 2015, 10:16 AM

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    Mute LingerieAddicted.com
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    Mute Ann Mooney
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    Jan 30th 2015, 9:57 PM

    Best of luck, Ciara.

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    Mute Dolores Burke
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    Jan 31st 2015, 12:01 AM

    The company was originally called “Isis Rose” but had to change it (for what should probably be pretty self-evident reasons), there was an article on The Journal a few months ago about it, so at the very least for your “rip-off” point, she’d have had to have chosen “Theya” from the outset…

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    Mute Dolores Burke
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    Jan 31st 2015, 12:02 AM

    (Replying to Jason below but I should really have my glasses on…)

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