Taoiseach meets Apple chief as media shunned

It was his first visit to European headquarters since taking over from Steve Jobs, and his first meeting with this country’s premier, but Apple CEO Tim Cook didn’t want questions from meddlesome journalists.

Dubbed a private meeting by the Taoiseach’s office, the media wasn’t even allowed into the grounds of the Apple plant in Cork, which now employs up to 3,800 staff.

Apple was in the centre of a controversy last year over its tax status in Ireland. Last year, the company had a $100bn overseas cash stash that was untaxed in the US. Ireland and the UK have been tax-friendly to Apple; its taxation strategy sees it pay a controversially low rate here.