The Chairman of the Aer Lingus board has told the Oireachtas Transport Committee that selling Aer Lingus to IAG represents a "hugely positive opportunity" for the airline and for the country.
Colm Barrington was explaining the rationale behind the Board's decision last week to come out in favour of the takeover.
He said the sale would provide real prospects for long term economic growth - and that he was surprised that the IAG bid could be represented any other way.
The Oireachtas Transport Committee has been hearing from various stakeholders in the last couple of weeks.
Today, Aer Lingus representatives, including Mr Barrington and CEO-designate Stephen Kavanagh, are explaining why they have expressed support for the bid from International Airlines Group (IAG).
Aer Lingus Regional, operated by Stobart Air, are also represented at the meeting.
The Aer Lingus directors have previously said there is a "compelling commercial logic" to allowing IAG to buy the airline.
It says the takeover would help to create jobs, enhance Ireland's connectivity to the outside world and develop Ireland as a hub for travel between Europe and America.
The directors said they would favour the takeover being proposed by IAG, but they are not in a position to recommend it because a formal bid has not yet been made.
The Transport Minister has said the IAG proposal to buy Aer Lingus remains under consideration by the government.
The airline announced yesterday that Mr Kavanagh will become its new Chief Executive Officer from March 1st.
Originally posted at 7.36am
