The American pharmaceutical company, Warner-Lambert, is planning to create 200 new jobs in Cork as part of a £78 million investment. The money will be used to build a new tableting facility at its plant in Ringaskiddy, Co Cork.

In September the company announced it was creating 100 new jobs as part of an upgrading of three production plants in the Cork area, including Ringaskiddy.

The investment, which is backed by the IDA, was announced yesterday by the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern. The company intends to hire the 200 people over the next five years, with 150 of them working in production, maintenance and quality control.

Building work on the factory is expected to commence early next year.