The Government is to seek a meeting with International Airlines Group (IAG) in relation to its bid to take-over Aer Lingus.
The Cabinet has been briefed by the Transport Minister about the bid that values the former national flag carrier at €2.55 per share or €1.3bn.
An inter-departmental working group on the sale of State assets has been re-activated to examine the bid.
Minister Paschal Donohoe says they are not going to rush into a decision and the government remains committed to doing what is "in the long-term interest of our economy and our country".
“They will also be making contact with IAG in the near future for preliminary contact to further understand the nature of the plan from that organisation," he said.
“As I have said throughout this issue, what is very important to the government is to make the decision that is in the long-term interest of our economy and country,” he added.
The Taoiseach has said no decision has been made about the future of Aer Lingus.
Enda Kenny says the matter was considered by cabinet today, but it'll be weeks before any decision is made on selling the State's shares.
The Cabinet has agreed to set up an advisory group which will take up to two months to recommend a sale.
In the Dáil this afternoon the Taoiseach said he understood the importance of the decision.
“Everybody understand the importance of this to our country - to our economy, to our people in terms of access, connectivity regional implications - beyond the valuation to be on the airline tin that regard so all of these matters have to be considered very carefully,” Mr Kenny said.
Fianna Fáil is accusing the coalition of planning to build up an election 'warchest' from the sale of Aer Lingus.
Clare TD Timmy Dooley wants the government to hold onto their 25%, but he says the coalition will not do that.
The Aer Lingus board has recommended the acceptance of the bid.
However Daniel McConnell, political correspondent with Independent News and Media, told Jonathan Healy on Lunchtime that the government have not come to a decision on their share in the company.
The public expenditure minister has said the economic benefit for the people of Ireland will be "critical" to any decision the government takes on the bid.
In a statement earlier, the airline said: "IAG has indicated that it would only proceed with its third proposal with an indication from the board of Aer Lingus that it would be willing to recommend the financial terms of the revised proposal."
"Having considered this request, the board has indicated to IAG that the financial terms are at a level at which it would be willing to recommend, subject to being satisfied with the manner in which IAG proposes to address the interests of relevant parties."
The statement goes on to outline that Aer Lingus would operate as a separate business with its own brand, management and operations, continuing to provide connectivity to Ireland, while "benefitting from the scale of being part of the larger IAG group."
Minister Brendan Howlin says the Cabinet will consider all issues very carefully:
As major shareholders, both the government and Ryanair would have the power to block the deal if they are not satisfied.
The biggest union wants the government to block the sale until it has secured a number of guarantees.
SIPTU wants commitments in relation to what it calls the strategic interests of the country, and conditions of employment.
And IMPACT's national secretary, Matt Staunton, warned Mr Donohoe that selling the company "represents a significant risk to the security of employment for Irish workers employed directly or indirectly by Aer Lingus" - adding that as many as 1,200 jobs could be at risk.
