US multinational set to announce significant job cuts

One of the largest US multinationals in Ireland is expected to announce job cuts at its Irish operations later today.

Abbott Laboratories is understood to be planning a meeting with staff this afternoon to outline details of the cuts.

The medical devices company employs more than 3,500 people in six plants around Ireland and is believed to be planning significant redundancies.

The Galway plant in Mervue is expected to be the focus of the lay-offs.

Extra security is said to have been drafted in at Galway to ensure nobody but Abbott staff attends this afternoon's meeting.