Apple Commits To Ireland As Tax Ruling Looms

Apple (LSE: 0R2V.L - news) 's chief executive has pledged to maintain the tech company's operations in Ireland (Other OTC: IRLD - news) , even if the European Union rules 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 European Commission announced in 2014 that it was investigating the legality of the company's use of Ireland as a tax base - claiming it was sheltering earnings worth tens of billions of dollars in Ireland in return for maintaining investment in the country.

It (Other OTC: ITGL - news) has previously ruled against Starbucks (Swiss: SBUX.SW - news) and Fiat (Hanover: FIA1.HA - news) , declaring that the coffee chain and the Dutch government had broken the law - as well as the carmaker and officials in Luxembourg.

It ordered back taxes of up to €30m (£22m) be paid by the companies.

Mr 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."