IBM Ireland, which employs 2,200 people in the Republic, said it would not be affected by 1,000 job cuts announced yesterday by its parent firm. The technology company said it was shedding about 4.6 per cent of its 21,500 workforce at its microelectronics division.

The division, which makes microchips for IBM and other high-tech companies such as Apple Computer, is most exposed to the downturn in demand for semiconductors.