Varadkar considering sale of Government stake in Aer Lingus
Transport Minister Leo Varadkar has today hinted that the Government's stake in Aer Lingus could be sold in the coming months.
Minister Varadkar said that he does not believe the "strategic" argument for keeping the 25.4% stake applies anymore.
He confirmed this morning that reform is on the way this autumn in his transport portfolio, with the focus "on the aviation side", rather than public transport.
Ryanair currently owns 29.4% of the company. If the rival airline were to acquire all of the Government shares, it would gain a controlling interest.
"No formal decision on that is made yet," Minister Varadkar.
"I suppose what I can say is that that stake in the past was held for strategic reasons, and having studied the matter over the summer, I don’t think that really stands anymore."
