The American computer firm Seagate Technology, which earlier this year closed its hard disc assembly plant in Clonmel, with the loss of more than 1,000 jobs, is insisting that it is "business as usual" at its Northern Ireland plants after announcing that it was now seeking a buyer for its facility at Livingston, near Edinburgh, which has a workforce of around 270 people.

The company said that it was no longer viable to continue operating the semiconductor design and manufacturing facility. However, a spokesman for Seagate said that this decision would have no impact on its plants in Derry and Limavady.

Corporate communications manager Mr Ian O'Leary said: "As far as Seagate in Northern Ireland is concerned, it is very much business as usual. It is important to note that our operations in Derry and Limavady are both focused on the manufacture of components for hard disk and tape drives, and are in no way dependent on the semiconductor manufacturing process carried out at our factory in Livingston. Production at both Northern Ireland plants will continue unaffected, and on schedule."