Diageo - the parent company of Guinness - is to establish two global business service centres by the end of 2002, and Ireland is under consideration as a location for the European centre.
Concern has been expressed by some city and business figures that the workforce element of the criteria might weigh against Dublin as the chosen location at the moment despite the obvious attractions.
The decision, yet to be made, is to be based on skills, cost and size of the potential labour pool, language, and the property, transport and telecommunications available.
Sources agreed that the range of activities of the new business centre - which include supplier invoices, accounting work on management and statutory report, customer orders, and payroll would impact on the St James's Gate operation.
Staff have been informed of the changes but no indication of the impact on employment has been made yet. This should be clear by April.
