It has been reported that the Natrium Consortium which bought the former Clery's department store property on O’Connell Street last June has held numerous discussions with Apple about establishing a flagship Apple Store at the iconic site.

Apple, which has more than 460 high-spec own-branded stores across the world, has an outlet in Belfast but none in the Republic of Ireland - The Irish Times reports that this could change.

The tech giant’s response to the paper's query read, "Apple has not announced a store for this location."

Other retailers including Sports Direct are understood to have taken an interest in the site.

The former-Clerys site was sold overnight in June of last year with no warning, locking out 400 workers and concession holders.

Apple taxes

Ireland is to submit a new batch of information to the European Commission as its probe into Apple's tax payments continues.

A Department of Finance spokesperson said that additional documents will be sent to Brussels today. A ruling had been expected during the second quarter of 2015.