Apple boss Tim Cook briefs Cork officials on expansion plans

Apple boss Tim Cook has briefed Cork City officials on his company’s multimillion-euro expansion plan at its European headquarters, which would create 1,000 jobs.

He reaffirmed the company’s commitment to Ireland, and to Cork in particular, the base of its only manufacturing plant outside the US, despite the EU’s €13bn tax ruling against it.

Some 5,500 people work at its Hollyhill facility, with up to 1,000 more jobs set to come on stream when a plant extension is completed towards the end of next year.

Mr Cook made his comments during a face-to-face meeting with Cork Lord Mayor Cllr Des Cahill, who is leading a delegation on a week-long visit to California, focused mainly in San Francisco.

Mr Cahill, city council chief executive Ann Doherty, Cork Chamber representatives, and IDA officials were among the delegation to meet Mr Cook and his senior management team at Apple’s global headquarters in Cupertino on Wednesday.

Mr Cahill said the meeting, which included a tour of Apple’s research labs, lasted about an hour.

“Because of what has happened recently, he [Tim Cook] wanted to thank us for our support,” said Mr Cahill, adding that Mr Cook raised the EU tax ruling and repeated his pledge to appeal against the decision.

He said Mr Cook also spoke of how Cork’s political and civic leaders have always been very supportive of Apple’s presence on the northside of the city, and have stuck with the company through “thick and thin, like an old married couple”.

Mr Cahill said: “Now I feel like we’ve renewed our vows.”

The delegation continues its visit to San Francisco, meeting with officials including San Francisco mayor Ed Lee, as well as visits to a number of firms with operations in Cork.