Apple chief executive officer Tim Cook recently announced that the company's operations in Ireland will continue, and even expand, despite a the looming European Union tax ruling that could hurt its business.

During the conference, Cook confirmed that 1,000 new jobs will be added in its Cork manufacturing plant by the middle of 2017. Apple's manufacturing plant at Cork, Ireland is home to at least a quarter of all its European-based staff.

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In 2014, the European Commission started an investigation regarding the legality of Apple's use of Ireland as a tax base. The commission claims that Apple is sheltering up to tens of billions of dollars' worth of earnings in Ireland, and in return the company maintains a steady investment in the country.

The European Commission recently ruled against Fiat and Starbucks, claiming that the two companies have broken the law and ordered them to pay $33 million in back taxes.

Cook told RTE News, "If there is an adverse ruling, we're going to appeal, Ireland is going to appeal and we're going to support them because there was no special deal, no special arrangement. I can't say for sure what they'll come back with, but what I do know for sure is that if the evidence is viewed on a fair basis, I believe strongly that it will be found that there was nothing wrong done."

According to CNBC, Apple paid an average tax rate of just 2.5 percent on more than $109 billion worth of non-U.S. profits in five years ending in 2014. The rate is just a fraction of Ireland's 12.5 percent tax rate. On the other hand, Cook claim that Apple paid 12.5 percent rate on all of the company's income generated in Ireland.

TagsApple Cork office, Cork, Cork Ireland, Apple Tax, Apple Ireland, Apple EU Tax Ruling Ireland