Proposals by News International and Smurfit International to join forces in a £40 million (€50 million) investment in a new printing plant in Kells, Co Meath have been outlined to local councillors.
It is understood the plant will print newspapers for the Rupert Murdoch-owned consortium that publishes the Irish editions of the Sun, the Times, News of the World and the Sunday Times. The plant will initially employ 80 people but that is expected to rise to 150.