Up to 167 jobs at Microsoft's European headquarters in Sandyford, Co Dublin, are to be axed following the reorganisation of its Windows Internationaldivision.
The company, which employs 1,700 people in Dublin, is playing down the importance of the decision by emphasising its intention to create 54 new jobs in a separate division of its Sandyford operation.
The world's largest software manufacturer said it would attempt to find jobs for affected staff in Microsoft locations outside Ireland and added that an advisory group had been set up to help employees assess their options.