All jobs at the Irish plants of Eastman Kodak are safe, despite plans to cut 10,000 jobs worldwide, the company has said. The managing director of the company's plant at Youghal, Co Cork said the 227 jobs there would be retained, as orders have increased in recent months.

Mr Gerry Poshkus said he was confident jobs would be retained, "at least in the short term".

He added that the decision in October to lay off 120 staff meant there was now little need for "further downsizing".

"We have seen increasing orders coming from Europe over the last few weeks, and, if that continues, we may actually recruit more people before the end of the year," he said.

He said the Youghal plant would have to reduce its costs, but much of this had already been achieved.

Meanwhile, plans by the company to recruit 400 people for a plant in Limerick were continuing, a spokesman said.

"The plant in Limerick is going ahead as planned, although it may open slightly later than we thought," he said.

One hundred people will be employed initially at the facility which will manufacture film cassettes for the company's advanced photo system, Advantix.