The sell-off of a majority stake in Aer Lingus will take place in the autumn, the Government has emphasised - despite a bid by the company's management to cut pension entitlements for new workers, writes Mark Hennessy, Political Correspondent.
In talks on Monday, the company declared its intention to offer all new employees access to a defined contributions pension scheme, which would be significantly poorer than the existing arrangement.
Aer Lingus's current defined benefit pension scheme is €170 million in the red, though management has offered to plough in €70 million from the sell-off revenue, along with higher contributions from the company and workers.
Impact, Siptu and craft union officials last Monday rejected the company's proposal, though there is optimism in some union quarters that the pension differences can be sorted out.
Meanwhile, the outspoken attack by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern on the semi-state company's former management team, led by Willie Walsh, caused some surprise, though Mr Ahern remains committed to a State sell-off.
Rejecting Dáil criticisms from Labour leader Pat Rabbitte, Mr Ahern said the last management had "wanted to steal the assets for themselves through a management buy-out, shafting staff interests.
"I am glad those individuals went on to prove their worth in the financial marketplace but at least they did not do it by taking the assets away from Aer Lingus," he told the Dáil.
The departure of the three managers, Mr Walsh, Séamus Kearney and Brian Dunne, followed a disagreement between them and the Government over the company's future ownership structure.
Mr Walsh has since become British Airways' chief executive, Mr Kearney is now the chief operating officer of Jacob Fruitfield, while Mr Dunne is a senior executive with an Air Canada subsidiary.
None of the three criticised by Mr Ahern - who was able to level the charges using Dáil privilege - was prepared to comment last night, following approaches from The Irish Times.
A spokesman for British Airways last evening said: "History will prove that Willie Walsh's foresight to take Aer Lingus into the private sector was the right course of action. We are delighted that his outstanding leadership skills are now successfully embedded in British Airways."
Questioned, the Taoiseach's spokeswoman acknowledged that the use of the word "steal" was "unfortunate", though she insisted that Mr Ahern had vehemently opposed Mr Walsh's 2004 plans.
"People should not be surprised that the Taoiseach would be averse to the principle of a management buy-out. He has always been very clear about his feelings.
"He does not take it back, but it was unfortunate that he used the word 'steal'. I am sure that there is a more appropriate word, but I just can't think of it at the moment," said the spokeswoman.
Mr Ahern's criticism of the former management will be seen as an effort by him to ingratiate himself with Aer Lingus workers, many of whom are fearful about the future under private control.
"The Taoiseach's intemperate and inaccurate remarks are merely playing to Dublin's northside gallery in an election year," said Fine Gael transport spokeswoman Olivia Mitchell, reflecting the views of others.
The company-staff disagreements mean that Aer Lingus chief executive Dermot Mannion's sale target of June cannot be met, though the Department of Transport said Mr Mannion had been trying "to create momentum".
"A June date for the IPO [Initial Public Offering] was never mentioned by the Government," said Mr Ahern, who still insisted that it "can happen this year".