New investments show Ireland still first port of call for US firms

Business Editor Alan Healy reports on Ireland's enduring appeal as a location for US firms to set up shop — despite a constantly changing global position

Then Taoiseach Simon Harris, Deborah Threadgold, IBM Country General Manager, James Kavanaugh, IBM SVP and Chief Financial Officer and Michael Lohan, CEO, IDA Ireland announcing 800 jobs at the company's operations in Ireland.

Publishing their end-of-year review, the IDA reported record levels of R&D investment by multinationals in Ireland last year, with US firms remaining the backbone of FDI.

Ireland secured 234 investment wins last year, delivering a record level of R&D investment as IDA clients committed €1.9bn across 64 investments. These announcements are expected to create 13,500 jobs in the coming years. Today, the FDI base in Ireland is remarkable. Multinationals now employ more than 300,000 people, 11% of our country's workforce.