Ireland's sustained economic growth depends upon establishing a culture of scientific and technological innovation, according to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Micheál Martin.

He was speaking at the announcement yesterday of 80 new research and development (R&D) jobs at Intel Communications Europe in the Shannon Free Zone.

Mr Martin said: "It is clear from the leading edge R&D activity being undertaken here in Shannon that Intel has more than satisfied the Government's objective of enhancing R&D capability in Ireland."

The announcement will bring the numbers working at Intel Communications to 205 over the next three years.

The Minister said: "The Government is very anxious to increase R&D capability within the country and a prodigious company like Intel to have a facility such as this within Shannon is a significant boost to our overall national efforts."

Intel Ireland general manager Jim O'Hara said: "Building up our R&D capabilities in Shannon, coupled with our state-of-the-art manufacturing in Leixlip, is a very significant milestone in growing our overall mandate here in Ireland."

Shannon Development chief executive Kevin Thompstone, said the jobs announcement was "a further endorsement that the region is competitive for high-tech knowledge-based investment on a global scale".

Mr Martin also met the board of Shannon Development yesterday for the first time since he issued the company with a revised mandate in July, transferring the company's enterprise functions to Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland.

Unions at Shannon Development have expressed their opposition to the new mandate and are not co-operating with the implementation process.

The Minister for Enterprise denied claims by Siptu that the mandate undermined Shannon Development.