Tyco International, which has an electronics operation in Blanchardstown in Dublin and a healthcare unit in Tullamore, Co Offaly, said it was cutting 6,000 jobs at its electronics division worldwide. However, an IDA Ireland official said he was not aware of "any imminent downsizing" in Ireland as a result of yesterday's announcement.

Tyco said some of the jobs were already cut during the company's fiscal fourth quarter. Mr Jⁿrgen Gromer, president of the electronics unit at Tyco, said the remainder of the layoffs would take place during the first half of the current fiscal year, which began on October 1st.

The total number of cuts represents about 8 per cent of the 78,900 employees in Tyco's electronics business.

Tyco spokeswoman Ms Maryanne Kane said employees were told about the cuts during the fourth quarter that ended on September 30th. The company did not specify how many jobs had already been eliminated.