Speculation of a sell-off of Aer Rianta was described as "premature", by SIPTU National Industrial Secretary Mr Noel Dowling. Aer Rianta was a well-run company which had not only funded its own investment requirements, but also contributed substantial returns to the Exchequer, Mr Dowling said. Privatisation was by no means the inevitable outcome of the review of the company ordered by the Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, he said.

Democratic Left spokesman on Transport Mr Eamon Gilmore TD yesterday called for the review to "be a genuine one which will give full consideration to all of the options for the future of the company".

Expressing "surprise" at the timing of the review just after legislation was passed to make Aer Rianta a commercial state-owned company he said employees were concerned that the outcome of the review was "pre-determined" and that the review process was designed to provide a political smokescreen to allow the Government to privatise the company.