The Tanaiste, Ms Harney, is expected to brief union officials about the future of the Arlington Avon jewellery plant either in Portarlington, Co Laois, or in Dublin during the coming week.
The future of the plant, which manufactures costume jewellery and employs 300 full-time workers, is under threat and a statement from the US operators is expected early this week.
So far none of the signals coming from senior executives of the company, which is conducting a worldwide review of its operations, are positive. The indications are that the plant is likely to close.
It was also learned yesterday that no senior politicians or representatives from the Department of Trade, Enterprise or Employment are scheduled to go to the US to argue on behalf of the 300-strong workforce.
Senior IDA officials are due in Portlaoise later today to speak to county councillors who had sought a meeting with the development body last month to explain why the county does not seem to be getting any benefit from falling national unemployment figures.
That meeting, which was to have focused on Co Laois, is now likely to be devoted to the future of the Portarlington plant. There are already nearly 1,000 people unemployed in the Co Laois town.