Ryanair met Irish minister over Aer Lingus bid

DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ryanair Chief Executive Michael O'Leary held an informal meeting with Irish transport minister Noel Dempsey outlining its fresh bid for rival airline Aer Lingus, the transport ministry said on Thursday.

Europe's biggest low-cost airline has said it is seeking to meet with Aer Lingus shareholders after Aer Lingus's board on Monday rejected Ryanair's new 750 million euro bid.

The government has a 25.1 percent stake in Aer Lingus, which was privatised in 2006.

"Yesterday the Minister for Transport accepted a request from the CEO of Ryanair, as a courtesy, for an informal meeting," the transport ministry said in a statement to Reuters.

"At the meeting the CEO outlined the key features of the offer as announced by Ryanair on 1 December. Minister Dempsey noted what Mr O'Leary had to say," it said.

Ryanair declined to comment.

Earlier on Wednesday Finance Minister Brian Lenihan told public broadcaster RTE it would have to "carefully consider" Ryanair's offer.

Lenihan added that the government would have to be "very very careful" how it disposed of such a valuable national asset.

The finance ministry said Lenihan had received a letter from Ryanair seeking a meeting, but no date had yet been set.