A €7.8 million milk protein facility has been opened by Glanbia Ingredients Ireland in Virginia, Co Cavan. It will process milk from counties on both sides of the Border for use in the global clinical nutrition, sports and consumer food industries.

The newly built plant is on the existing Glanbia site, which already employs 100 people. The facility produces enriched milk powders for export markets and is the only supplier of cream for the Bailey’s liqueur brand.

Glanbia Ingredients chief executive Jim Bergin said the new plant would increase milk protein capacity from 4,000 to 10,000 tonnes and was part of the dairy company's programme of expansion to prepare for the demise of milk quotas next spring.

Glanbia is investing €200 million in its expansion programme with support from Enterprise Ireland. Mr Bergin said the investment programme was one of the largest ever undertaken by an indigenous company and would help farmers and customers to expand their businesses as quotas are eliminated.

He said that, while there were fluctuations in commodity pricing, “the long range outlook for the business and for suppliers is positive, with a growing demand from customers for the high quality milk proteins we will be producing here”.

Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Heather Humphreys, who represents the constituency, said Glanbia was a very important employer locally.

The opening of the new plant was also welcomed by Northern Ireland's Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment Arlene Foster. "Glanbia employs a large number of people on both sides of the Border, through direct employment and through the supply of milk from dairy farmers, and is an excellent example of the opportunities that cross-Border trade and investment brings to both countries," she said.

Food and drink industries in Northern Ireland and the Republic were heavily reliant on export markets, she said, and they should work together to promote the free flow of trade across the Border.