US technology group Sun Microsystems, which has a software development operation in Ireland, has reported a 26 per cent increase in adjusted net earnings in its third fiscal quarter to $291.4 million (€271.8 million), from the same period last year.

Earnings per share came to 71 US cents, up 20 per cent, on sales of $2.9 billion, a 24 per cent increase over third-quarter 1998.

Last month Sun announced it would double its European software centre operations in Dublin. The company, which provides hardware and software for business networks, employs 160 people at East Point Business Park in Dublin in strategic software engineering roles.