The Minister for Transport, Mr Seamus Brennan, said today the Government has not ruled out a management buyout of Aer Lingus.
He said the cabinet sub-committee chaired by the Taoiseach was studying a report from advisers Goldman Sachs on the best options for the airline before a formal recommendation was made to the Dáil.
Mr Brennan said: "I think the first decision we must make is what is right for the airline, whether it is right to take in extra investment to permit it to invest in new aircraft and so on.
He said: "Or whether it is appropriate that full measure or some measure of state involvement should continue."