Apple to continue operations in Ireland

Apple chief executive Tim Cook has committed to continue the tech company's operations in Ireland, even if the EU ruled against it in a state aid case due next year.

Tim Cook was speaking after confirming 1,000 new jobs by mid-2017 in Cork, where a quarter of the company's European staff are based.

The EC announced in 2014 that it was investigating the legality of the company's use of Ireland as a tax base – over claims the iPhone maker was sheltering earnings worth tens of billions of dollars in Ireland in return for maintaining investment in the country.

In an earlier ruling, the EC had faulted Starbucks as it said the coffee chain and the Dutch government had broken the law. The EC added the car maker and officials in Luxembourg too had violated the law.

The EC ordered the companies to pay up to €30 million.

Cook told Ireland's national broadcaster RTE, "You can tell by our (jobs) announcement today, we're all in.

"If there is an adverse ruling, we're going to appeal, Ireland is going to appeal and we're going to support them because there was no special deal, no special arrangement.

"I can't say for sure what they'll come back with, but what I do know for sure is that if the evidence is viewed on a fair basis, I believe strongly that it will be found that there was nothing wrong done."

The EU is probing Ireland's tax arrangements with the US tech giant to see if there was a deal to secure local jobs.

"I believe strongly that Ireland will be found that there was nothing wrong done and therefore Apple by connection," he told national broadcaster RTE in an interview broadcast Wednesday night.