US computer equipment corporation Digital, which employs 1,100 in Ireland, has reported disappointing profits for the third quarter to the end of March. Figures issued yesterday show pre tax profits, for the three month period, of $51 million (£33.1 million), down 60 per cent on pretax profits of $124 million (£80.5 million) in the same period last year, mainly due to lower international earnings because of the strength of the dollar.

Digital's Irish operations in Dublin and Galway performed in line with expectations, according to its senior management in the Republic. Mr Paul Harvey, chief executive of Digital Equipment in Dublin, said its sales were up by 11 per cent year on last year, reporting strong orders over the past three months. While Mr Wilf Regan, general manager of Digital's European software centre in Galway said its operations continued to make good progress.