The US software firm Oracle plans to set up a new consulting division in Dublin in a move that will create about 50 new jobs.

The company will also set up its first sales office in Northern Ireland next February, creating an extra 20 jobs, its country manager for Ireland said yesterday.

Mr Nicky Sheridan said the new centre would enable Oracle to deploy Irish-based consultants throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa on a range of business and technology projects.

"In the old days we only needed Oracle consultants with IT skills, but increasingly clients want a mix of business and technical skills to deliver a definite return on investment," he said.

The demand for consultants has come from the recent launch of Oracle Expert Services, which offers a range of new technical services, said Mr Sheridan.

The new Dublin-based Oracle consultants will work at a consulting centre of excellence at the firm's Irish headquarters at the East Point Business Park.

Oracle said it planned to open its first office in the Northern Ireland in January or February in an effort to grow sales in the region.

Mr Sheridan said more political stability in Northern Ireland had created better business opportunities in the region.

"With a focused office in Belfast, we will be in a better position to provide our services to cater for strong demand from the established public sector as well as the merging commercial and private sector," he said.

Oracle employs 900 people in the Republic at its European headquarters in Dublin.