Oracle Ireland is likely to increase employment further, after its parent company announced an 11 per cent rise in net profits for the third quarter. The Irish company, which already employs 500 people in four separate facilities in Dublin, looks set to benefit from a 29 per cent increase in European turnover and a 27 per cent increase in global sales.

Sales of Oracle 8, the company's flagship database product, which is manufactured in Santry, Co Dublin, were described as "exceptionally good" yesterday by the managing director of Oracle Ireland, Mr John Appleby. Results for the quarter ended February 28th, show net income rising to $215 million, compared to $193 million in the same period of 1997. For the first nine months of fiscal 1998, revenues increased 27 per cent to $4.731 billion.