Vol. 502 No. 4
80 Mrs. Owen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the situation concerning the transfer from Cork to Wales of Apple Computer Limited's iMAC production; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8471/99]
Production of Apples new personal computer, the iMAC, commenced in Cork shortly after the iMACs launch in August 1998. It has been a very successful product and Apple has sold 800,000 iMACs since August 1998. Unfortunately, Apple decided that the manufacture of its iMAC product is to be sub-contracted to L.G. Electronics, located in Wales. This is part of a worldwide interlinked process in the Apple Company to reduce costs. The company has decided to relocate to a lower cost production regime.
Every effort was made to retain maximum employment in Apple, Cork. The IDA maintained ongoing contact with key decision-makers at Apple headquarters in California-USA. This involved detailed discussions at a meeting between IDAs chief executive and senior Apple personnel at the company's headquarters in the US at the end of January this year.
I can assure you that every support to find new jobs will be given to the employees at Apple affected by this recent decision. In this respect, employment prospects in Cork are generally positive at present and everything possible will be done by FÁS to enhance the employees prospects for re-employment.
Apples Cork operation is, of course, to retain the manufacture of the G3 desktop products. In addition, Apple are reviewing other functions that could be added to Cork. Possible new functions include investing in the assets to convert Cork to a configure-to-order plant, and introducing finance and operations functions to support Apples European operations and call centre activities.
