The president of Cork Chamber of Commerce has warned that pay increases have the potential to undermine the country’s competitiveness as the economy emerges from a period of harsh austerity.

There’s something a little odd about ambling through the only Apple-owned manufacturing facility in the world, watching man and machine combine to build products destined for every corner of Europe, all against the unmistakable backdrop of Cork voices more readily associated with the terraces of the old Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Limerick brothers Patrick and John Collison are among the 24 finalists announced as part of the 18th annual EY Entrepreneur of the Year awards.

Cork-based industrial firm Crest Solutions has acquired Belgian company VistaLink for an undisclosed sum.