Motorola, which employs 1,800 people in Ireland, has confirmed it is to create 120 jobs at a new semiconductor design centre at Mahon, Cork. The jobs will come on stream over a three-year period and will be mainly filled by experienced design engineer graduates.

The investment comes at a time when Motorola has said it will be trying to cut costs because of a slump in profits. It has insisted it will not have any obvious implications for its Irish operations.