Aer Lingus chief executive Mr Michael Foley, who has been the subject of sexual harassment claims, has not arrived for work this morning at his Dublin Airport office.
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Aer Lingus chief executive Mr Michael Foley.
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Last Friday Mr Foley was advised by the company's sub-committee he was not required to attend work or perform his duties pending the outcome of the sub-committee's work - which will conclude next Friday.
In a report last week the sub-committee upheld two allegations of sexual harassment against him. When the sub-committee delivers its findings Mr Foley will have 48 hours to appeal the decision. Any appeal would be heard by the sub-committee.
Aer Lingus has empowered the sub-committee with the full authority of its board to take whatever action it decides in light of the report.
The company directors on a new sub-committee examining the report include the RTÉ Authority chairman Mr Patrick Wright; an executive director of the recruitment group Marlborough Mr Des Richardson; and a business consultant Mr Chris Wall.
Mr Foley issued a statement last Thursday saying there were "many inconsistencies" and "conflicting evidence" in the sub-committee's report.
The statement also alleged "arbitrary, selective and subjective use of evidence" arguing "deviation from the substantive elements of the allegations".
The original sub-committee which compiled the report included Dr John Keane, a consultant physician with the Midland Health Authority; and Ms Rose Hynes, who works with AerFi. Both are company directors.
This sub-committee members were appointed in February 2001 after allegations of sexual harassment against Mr Foley by a worker-director at the airline, Ms Joan Loughnane.
A second allegation of sexual harassment against Mr Foley, made in March by an Aer Lingus staff member, was also considered in the report.
