Whatever chance Mary O'Rourke had of getting Aer Lingus off her hands has surely disappeared in the increasingly nasty battle over allegations of sexual harassment against chief executive Michael Foley.

It would be interesting to know what emerged at the briefing the Minister received from airline chairman Bernie Cahill. Certainly, Mr Cahill now finds himself firmly in the front line of the bid by Mr Foley to clear his name.

What is certain is that it will be some time before the airline's management will be able to persuade the public that it speaks with one mind and has a strategy worthy of their money, invested through a flotation.