The Tánaiste has told the Dáil she does not share the perspective that three former Aer Lingus executives tried to steal the assets of the airline.
Responding to questions about comments made yesterday by the Taoiseach, Mary Harney said she thought Bertie Ahern may have intended to use the word strip rather than steal.
Ms Harney said her view was that the former Chief Executive, Willie Walsh, had done a fantastic job with the national carrier.
The Labour leader, Pat Rabbitte, said Mr Ahern should come into the Dáil to correct what he described as an outrageous defamatory statement about the former executives.
Meanwhile, an economist has warned that Aer Lingus would be left vulnerable to a takeover bid if the Government significantly reduced its shareholding in the company.
Dr Aisling Reynolds-Feighan from the School of Economics in UCD is one of a number of parties presenting their views to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport today on the partial sale of the airline.
