Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said today the Cabinet has not yet made a decision on the future of Aer Lingus and the proposed development of Dublin Airport.
Bertie Ahern: No Cabinet decision yet on Aer Lingus and Dublin Airport development
Mr Ahern told an Irish Management Institute conference in Wicklow that Minister for Transport Martin Cullen would bring proposals to Government shortly.
He said he was mindful of the media speculation surrounding the Government's deliberations but said he would not comment further until a decision had been arrived at.
A Cabinet row erupted yesterday in the wake of Mr Cullen's comments on plans for a second terminal at Dublin Airport.
Mr Cullen hinted the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA), the public body that owns the existing terminal, may play a key role in building and running a second terminal.
He said he was "equally fine" with suggestions that the DAA or a private operator could run the terminal.
But Tánaiste Mary Harney responded, saying she did not think it was "very helpful" for Cabinet colleagues to discuss an issue in public that was coming before the Government.
Ms Harney has publicly stated that she is against any proposal to allow the DAA to run the terminal over fears it would restrict competition.
Opposition parties seized on the comments, claiming there was a Cabinet rift between Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats on the issue of who should run the second terminal.
Speaking at the IMI conference yesterday, Mr Cullen also revealed his preference for selling off a majority stake in Aer Lingus.
