The Department of Transport has said the Government will take a cautious approach to any new airline security measures across the European Union.
A security official from the department is attending a two-day meeting of experts from all 25 member states in Brussels to discuss an EU response to last month's alleged plot to blow up aircraft using liquid explosives smuggled on board.
Following the alleged UK plot, the question of how to prevent any such attack in the future has gripped governments and the airline industry.
The issue is how to make air travel as safe as possible without making life for passengers intolerable.
The initial response by the US was to ban liquids, gels and aerosols in hand luggage.
EU legislation since 2002 sets out the minimum criteria for member states on aviation security, with individual countries imposing stricter measures if they wish.
But now Brussels wants to set out what exactly can be brought on board by people using EU airports, to ensure a consistent approach across the continent.
Today EU security experts have been studying scientific evidence regarding the actual volume of liquids needed to detonate an explosion. They may draw up a range of liquids that might be restricted, and could also impose a lower size limit on hand luggage.
Sources suggest the Government wants the new measures not to be too stringent due to the current flotation of Aer Lingus and the importance of the airline industry to Ireland.
