Global logistics company Flextronics has secured high-level authorisation which it hopes will allow the company grow in to the medical devices sector.

The worst fears of workers at Flextronics Plant in Tullamore, Co Offaly have been confirmed this evening. The company is to shed 370 of its 404-strong workforce.

Workers in Co Cork are bracing themselves for further bad news this morning, with 200 jobs under threat at the Surfacemount Technology plant in Cork city.