Updated 10.45:
There are fears for jobs at Intel's Irish manufacturing plant, after the tech giant announced plans to cut 12,000 jobs over the next year.
Intel has a workforce of about 4,500 here - centred on its plant in Leixlip, Co Kildare, but the company says it is too early to say if staff will be cut from its Irish operations.
The US chipmaker is trying to reduce its dependence on the slumping personal computer market.
In a statement by Leonard Hobbs, Director of Global Public Affairs at Intel Ireland: "We are not providing site-specific information at this time. Overall, however, we expect that these actions will result in a reduction of up to 12,000 positions globally by mid-2017 through site consolidations, a combination of voluntary and involuntary departures, reevaluation of projects, and an increased focus on efficiency in a variety of programs."
The restructuring will get rid of about 11% of its employees by the middle of next year.
An Bord Pleanála granted permission for a 40-acre expansion at the Leixlip plant back in 2013.
Newstalk.com's business editor Vincent Wall told Breakfast the site should be protected.
Adrian Weckler is technology editor with the Irish Independent.
He told Newstalk Breakfast big cuts in Ireland would be "quite surprising".
