Ireland's most senior trade unionist, David Begg, yesterday expressed serious concerns about any Aer Lingus sale by the Government.

The general secretary of the ICTU said any plans by the Government to retain a "golden share" in Aer Lingus would not stop control of the company passing into private hands.

A "golden share" is the term used to describe the shareholding retained by a government during a privatisation process. It is usually retained to prevent a complete takeover of a former state- owned company.

Mr Begg said what was needed in relation to State companies was an overall coherent policy and not a case-by-case approach. He was speaking on RTÉ Radio One's This Week programme.

Mr Begg has been heavily involved in drawing up a new plan for State-owned enterprises. In the proposal the ICTU recommended the setting up of a holding company for the various State-owned enterprises. However Mr Begg said the Government had so far not responded.

In relation to Aer Lingus specifically, Mr Begg said a golden share would not necessarily work. "History has shown that golden shares simply don't work."

He said there was a second problem. "If you have a minority shareholding and you decide we will keep 35 per cent of the company in public ownership, that is only sustainable if you are willing to invest in the company in the future, if a rights issue emerged, for instance," he said.