Vol. 482 No. 5
10 Mr. Coveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment whether she has been assured of the continued existence of jobs in the Apple Corporation in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18267/97]
51 Mrs. Owen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the meetings, if any, she had during her recent trip to the US with senior management of the Apple Corporation; and the assurances, if any, she got on the future of jobs in this company's operation in Ireland. [18266/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 51 together.
Although I did not meet personally with apple Corporation, senior executives from IDA Ireland met top management from Apple Corporation in the course of my recent visit to the United States. At that meeting IDA Ireland was assured by the company that it is fully committed to its facility in Cork.
Apple Corporation has been experiencing difficulty in the market place but has been taking steps to redirect itself by concentrating on markets where its products have a tangible advantage for example education and publishing markets. The corporation has also appointed a new board and is seeking a new chief executive. Furthermore, its financial losses are being reduced substantially.
Throughout all this change Apple Corporation in Cork has continued to undertake all its activities absorbing the activities of Apple's European Service Centre and maintaining its employment levels.
There is regular communication between the Irish Government, IDA Ireland and Apple Corporation in the US. I will continue to take an active interest in relation to Apple's Cork operations.
