Apple of Ireland’s eye

Apple Computer’s Irish base faces reforms in order to stay competitive, European Operations director Joe Gantly said last week.

The company has had a 22-year successful run in Ireland, he added, but said that local infrastructure has to improve if the company is stay in the running with competitors.

Gantly told the monthly Cork Chamber of Commerce Business Breakfast that only Apple and Dell are turning a profit in the current climate.

“This will not be popular, but we have had to move away from talking about Cork and talk global, not local,” he said. “Apple in Ireland has to stop thinking about customers just in Ireland and thinking about suppliers globally.”

Gantly was critical of Cork city’s infrastructure. He said that roads, technology and airports all hadve to be improved rapidly for Apple and other companies to stay ahead of competition and to stay in the region.

He said that Patrick Street, Cork’s main street, is “a disgrace” to negotiate.