SEÁN DUNNE pulled no punches in his letter last week to Aer Lingus chairman John Sharman about Dermot Desmond's suitability for the role of chairman with our national airline.

First he had a cut at Desmond's role in the Telecom Éireann/Johnson Mooney O'Brien affair, which was the subject of the Glackin report. Then he dragged up his appearances before the Moriarty tribunal over the past decade.

"Since the Glackin report, Mr Desmond has appeared on a number of occasions in the Moriarty tribunal in respect of an inquiry into payments to politicians, namely the late Charles Haughey and Michael Lowry," Dunne said.

"The findings of that report remain extant. It would seem to me, therefore, to be an act of some concern that the board members with the apparent tacit approval of the Government and unions, who between them control 40 per cent of the shares, are considering inviting Mr Desmond to become the chair of our company when a High Court judge's report on a tribunal, as authorised by Dáil Éireann, has not yet delivered its findings."

While not alleging any "turpitude" against Desmond, the Carlow-born property developer warned that an adverse finding from the Moriarty tribunal would make his position as chair of Aer Lingus "untenable".

Desmond has been the subject of questioning by Moriarty in relation to money that he gave former taoiseach Charles Haughey and the awarding of the second mobile phone licence to Esat Digifone, a company in which the financier was a large shareholder. Moriarty has yet to publish its final report.

Desmond was always putting himself in the firing line by letting his name go forward for the Aer Lingus chairmanship. Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary, Oireachtas committees full of their own importance, belligerent workers and cranky consumer groups lurk around the corner.

It makes you wonder why the billionaire bothered offering his services.