[lunarscape]

Regarding how Ireland is mentioned in the article- Apple has had a significant presence in Ireland since the year 1980, has a workforce nearing 3000 and is expanding, announcing 500 jobs just this month [1]. Hardly "little more than a letterbox or an anonymous office " as could be misinterpreted rather easily from this article.

[1] http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/20/us-apple-ireland-i...

[rmc]

To put it in perspective, the 80s in Ireland were very bad economically, very few jobs, lots of emigration. Apple also have their office in Cork (not Dublin) which would have fewer native industries and employment, so they probably qualify chore all kinds of 'kindness' grants.