THE CENTRAL organisation which represents nine unions at Aer Lingus is contacting each union to canvass their views on whether businessman Dermot Desmond should be appointed the next chairman of the airline.

Myles Worth, secretary of the Central Representative Council (CRC), which represents unions at the airline, said he was contacting the unions to assess their views on Mr Desmond's possible appointment as chairman.

A subcommittee of the airline's board, charged with the task of finding a successor to current chairman John Sharman when he steps down next March, is to recommend that Mr Desmond be appointed to succeed him. It is not clear whether Mr Desmond will take the position, if it was offered.

Mr Worth said: "The CRC governs the unions and we are consulting with all nine unions." He said he hoped to speak to the remaining unions by the close of business yesterday or today. Mr Worth said the CRC has not yet received confirmation that the subcommittee of the airline's board is to recommend Mr Desmond as the next chairman.

A number of other individuals have been considered but it's understood that Mr Desmond is the subcommittee's favoured chairman. A spokeswoman for Mr Desmond has declined to comment. One of the airline's board members said on Friday that he was contacted by a member of the selection subcommittee and informed that Mr Desmond was being considered for the chairman's job. An announcement on Mr Sharman's successor is expected in the coming weeks.

The company's employee share ownership trust holds a 14 per cent stake in Aer Lingus, while the Government owns 25 per cent.