Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has said the Government's stake in Aer Lingus would not change, no matter what happened in future.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio's 'This Week' programme, he also said Ryanair had previously made it clear it was not interested in Aer Lingus.
He said people believed them and perhaps it was naive to have done so.
Earlier, the main staff shareholding group at Aer Lingus expressed concerns about how they would be represented on the board of Ryanair if the company merged with Aer Lingus.
In a letter to its members, the Employee Share Ownership Trust also described as 'inaccurate' Ryanair's claim that beneficiaries of the trust could realise an estimated €60,000 if they accepted the Ryanair offer for the airline.
The board of the trust say current staff stand to realise just under €39,000, while former staff could get almost €14,000 if the Ryanair offer were accepted.
The trust has also expressed concerns about how their profit share entitlement would be calculated in the future if Ryanair took over the company.
Members have been asked to vote on whether to accept or reject the Ryanair offer.
They have until midday on Wednesday 22 November to return their ballot papers.
