A meeting has been held today between Aer Lingus management, unions and representatives from the International Airlines Group (IAG).

It is the latest step in the bid by the airline group to take over the company, and comes after a series of union and political comments about the future of the offer.

ICTU says it is surprised by one union representative's claim that workers were 'warming' to the offer. 

The head of Aer Lingus' Central Representative Council, Myles Worth, said staff were broadly in favour of the takeover.

Matt Staunton, National Secretary for the Services and Enterprises Division at the IMPACT trade union, said Mr Worth's comments were made in a personal capacity,

Mr Staunton also told Newstalk Lunchtime that they heard no assurances at today's meeting that jobs would be protected:

Despite comments from Pat Rabbitte at the weekend, the office of Labour leader Joan Burton says there has been no change in the position of their party and they still have concerns about jobs and connectivity.

Minister Burton said Pat Rabbitte was entitled to give his opinion, but says she will await the outcome of an interdepartmental review into the sale of Aer Lingus, before making a decision to back it or not:

Owen Reidy is a Utilities and Construction Division Organiser with SIPTU, the union representing the largest number of workers with Aer Lingus.

He spoke to Breakfast about today's meeting and the union's view on the takeover bid:

Michael McNamara, Labour TD for Clare, spoke to Newstalk Lunchtime about the bid and potential plans to develop an Aer Lingus hub in Dublin, saying he's not sure yet "if it's in the all round national interest":

Last week, the Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney said "as of yet", the government has not received an offer for Aer Lingus that is "persuasive enough."

Mr Coveney admitted that there are "mixed views" within Fine Gael over the sale of the airline, adding that the "ball is in IAG's court."

Originally posted at 7.44am