Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's former election agent and long time friend Mr Chris Wall has been appointed to the board of Aer Lingus. He joins Mr Des Richardson, another close friend of Mr Ahern and a major fund-raiser for the party.

Appointments to the national airline board are seen as very attractive as it is understood non-executive directors are entitled to free flights during their five-year tenure with reduced rates for family members. The board meets 10 times a year and each director gets £5,000 per annum.

It is understood that the Cabinet approved the appointment of Mr Wall and Ms Maire Geoghegan-Quinn earlier this week. Ms Geoghegan-Quinn, an Irish Times columnist, was once a rival of Mr Ahern for the FF leadership but is also an close associate of the Taoiseach.

Mr Wall is currently international secretary of Bord Luthcheleas na hEireann (BLE) and is an executive with the Welcome Pharmaceutical Company. Ms Geoghegan-Quinn has been appointed to several boards since she left politics. Her directorships include Ryan Hotels and Ganley International, a company run by Galway entrepreneur Mr Declan Ganley.

Ms Geoghegan-Quinn quit politics in 1997. She was the first woman member of Cabinet since the Treaty and she held several senior ministries. She was known as a formidable Dail performer. She is highly thought of by Mr Ahern who suggested that her appointment to high office by every Fianna Fail leader since Mr Jack Lynch spoke volumes for her "talent, toughness and tenacity".

Her experience as a former tourism, transport and communications (now public enterprise) minister should serve her well. She served in that post from February 1992 to January 1993 and had to deal with a number of issues ranging from the Shannon stopover to a postal strike and the sacking of a chairman of Telecom Eireann.

However, in October 1992 she was accused by Fine Gael's Mr Austin Deasy of "handbagging" the Aer Lingus board. She was extremely critical of Aer Lingus, which was in deep financial trouble, during her tenure.

One of Ms Geoghegan-Quinn's first tasks as a board member will be to help see through a strategic alliance for the airline. Aer Lingus executives are currently talking to up to 10 different airlines and airline groupings. Among those tipped to be in the frame are the STAR alliance, which includes Lufthansa and United Airlines in the US.