Aer Lingus chief executive Mr Willie Walsh has rejected suggestions that he was motivated by personal enrichment in making proposals for the privatisation of Aer Lingus.
He said there was "absolutely no truth in that whatsoever".
Mr Walsh, who on Tuesday announced his resignation from Aer Lingus along with his senior management colleagues, was responding to comments made earlier on the matter by the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern.
The Taoiseach told the Dáil that there was concern within Aer Lingus that the proposed management buyout was motivated by a management desire to become wealthy.
The Taoiseach also said there was resentment that the management team had claimed virtually all the credit for "the rescue" of Aer Lingus since 2001.
However, Mr Walsh said he was "not offended" by the implication that he had sought change at Aer Lingus for personal gain. "I'm sure the Taoiseach has his agenda. My agenda is very simple," he said, addressing reporters after the CEO Forum conference at Dublin City University.
" I believe that the job that has been achieved in the last 3 years since I took over as chief executive has been exceptional," Mr Walsh said, describing the strategy pursued as "commercially correct".
"I don't believe anybody can criticise me or my management team for anything we have done over the past three years."
It emerged this week that Mr Walsh would leave Aer Lingus next May along with the airline's chief operations officer, Mr Séamus Kearney, and its chief financial officer, Mr Brian Dunne.
Mr Walsh said it was important to recognise the "realities" of the aviation market. "That need for change has not gone away. More change is required if Aer Lingus is to be successful going forward."
When asked for his reasons for departing the job, he said the funding of the airline was "one of a number of issues that needs to be addressed".
Aer Lingus was at a crossroads, he said. "There is the potential for significant expansion, but the question that needs to be answered is where will the funding for that expansion come from?" He said Aer Lingus needed "clarity" on how it would access funding in the future.
Mr Walsh said he wanted to facilitate a "smooth transition" to a new management team at Aer Lingus. He later indicated that he would be happy to leave earlier than May if that was the wish of the Aer Lingus board.
Ryanair chief executive, Mr Michael O'Leary last night seized upon the Aer Lingus departures as another sign that, in his view, the Government is incapable of making decisions.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio, Mr O'Leary jokingly offered to give up a half-day per week to run Aer Lingus on the Government's behalf.
Mr O'Leary also called for action on a second terminal at Dublin Airport. He pointed out that it had been more than two years since 13 parties had expressed an interest in developing a new terminal.
The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr Martin, who is on a trade mission to Japan, rejected the suggestion yesterday that the Government's policy, or lack of a policy, on dealing with Aer Lingus had led to the resignation of three senior executives at the airline.
