A number of Labour TDs who had raised concerns about the sale of the remaining State share of Aer Lingus earlier this year say they now support the takeover by IAG.

The Dáil has been continuing a debate on the proposal ahead of a vote tomorrow.

Fianna Fáil is to make an attempt in the Dáil tomorrow to prevent the vote taking place.

The workers are protected, the company is protected,” said Labour TD Dominic Halligan. “I’m glad to see that the brand is going to remain in Dublin, the headquarters are going to remember in Dublin.

“I think there are many positive benefits of this sale,” he said.

Labour TD John Lyons also backed the move, saying: “I am genuinely satisfied that it actually offers for the first time a possible viable future for that brand that we call Aer Lingus.”

There were heated exchanges in the Dáil today as the government and Opposition clashed over the sale of Aer Lingus to IAG.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny insisted in the Dáil the coalition decision to sell the remaining 25% State stake in Aer Lingus is the best decision for the country, while opposition leaders say the decision is the wrong one and does not protect jobs.

In an angry Dáil contribution, Independent TD and former Aer Lingus worker Clare Daly said what the government was doing was "a new low".

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams says the guarantees the government says it has secured are worthless.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin claimed a secret expert report - the NYRAS report - was prepared for Aer Lingus, about a possible sale.

He says it highlights potential widescale job losses.

The Taoiseach admitted that neither he, or the Cabinet, had seen this report in reaching the decision.

Meanwhile, Aer Lingus says the NYRAS report, has no bearing on employment at the airline.

In a statement this evening, Aer Lingus says this is "highly misleading".

It says the report was a cost-base comparison presentation, commissioned by Chief Executive Stephen Kavanagh, and has nothing to do with IAG.

"This type of exercise is part of the normal course of business in the highly competitive and international airline sector," Declan Kearney, director of communications at Aer Lingus, told Newstalk.

The airline also says any potential savings identified related to third party services and have nothing to do with jobs.