Johnson & Johnson project goes ahead

US pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson is pressing ahead with its €530 million investment in Little Island, Cork, despite an EU threat to block €50m in IDA grants committed to the project.

Its subsidiary Centocor is to produce a range of medical products at the plant for the treatment of a variety of diseases. The company originally announced plans for the project in July 2004.

EU competition officials have demanded extensive details of the plant and grant said from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.