Tánaiste and Minister for Health Mary Harney today opened healthcare facilities in Longford and Sligo that will create over 800 jobs by 2008.
Today's openings are part of Abbott Ireland's €230 million expansion plan in Europe to meet the increasing global demand for diagnostic testing.
The investment has already created 505 jobs in the Border, midlands and west region with more than 300 additional jobs planned before 2008.
Eighty per cent of the new jobs will be for graduates, both new and experienced, from third-level institutions.
Ms Harney described the investment as "a major vote of confidence to the workforce in Longford and Sligo and will be a major boost to both regions".
Abbott's new Longford facility will manufacture tests for several diagnostic instruments used by hospitals, GPs and laboratories throughout the world.
The expanded facility in Finisklin, Sligo, included adding the capacity to manufacture tests for Abbott's Architect system. The facility already supplies instrument accessories and tests, including hepatitis and HIV.