The Transport Minister has said Michael O’Leary’s opinion on the sale of Aer Lingus is “very much a matter for Michael”, while his job as Minister is to represent the Irish taxpayer.

Paschal Donohoe was responding to the Ryanair boss' prediction that Aer Lingus will eventually be broken up no matter who succeeds in buying it.

“Michael O’Leary’s views are very much a matter for Michael. He’s obviously very skilled at articulating what he believes is very important for Ryanair and the development of his business, and that’s something that I recognise.

“My job in relation to this would be to represent the Irish taxpayer, which obviously has a financial stake in the Aer Lingus, but also to represent the Irish taxpayer through broader policies that our government has” Mr Donohoe said.

"Because of previous government submissions to the European competition authorities, no matter who buys Aer Lingus at this stage, it will broken up in some way, shape or form," Mr O’Leary said yesterday, according to the Irish Independent.

"The Irish government has been so blinkered in its approach to this in the last five or six years," Mr O’Leary added.

Investors are expecting a third offer from British Airways' owner IAG to buy Aer Lingus - two indicative offers have already been rebuffed.