Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said that the Government has not yet seen any details of the proposed take-over bid of Aer Lingus by IAG, the British Airways parent group.
He said a formal offer has not been made yet.
Speaking on RTÉ's This Week, Mr Kenny said he would need, what he called, a cast iron permanent guarantee on the airline's connectivity, before the Government considers its position on any formal offer.
There has been no decision yet on whether the offer by IAG, believed to be worth €2.50 a share, which would value the airline at €1.3bn, should be accepted.
The Aer Lingus board has already rejected two offers made by IAG worth €2.30 and €2.40 a share.
