Donegal has received a major jobs boost as US healthcare firm Abbott said it was adding 500 jobs to its manufacturing facility.

Pharmaceutical giant Merck’s announcement of 330 jobs for Cork and Carlow is evidence that multinationals’ fear of US president Donald Trump’s policies are easing — but there could be a threat to Ireland looming from French president Emmanuel Macron, an economist has warned.

The Labour Court has recommended that Siptu members working at Abbott’s nutrition plant at Cootehill receive a pay increase over and above what the firm has been offering.