US healthcare company Abbott Laboratories is to create 600 jobs with the expansion of its production facility in Galway, the Tánaiste announced this afternoon.
Ms Harney said the investment will create almost 180 new jobs within three years, rising to 600 over five years.
Abbott is one of the biggest healthcare employers in Ireland, employing over 1,800 people at seven facilities. It recently acquired the Galway facility as part of its acquisition of British healthcare company Biocompatibles.
Ms Harney said that the investment will further enhance the reputation of the west of Ireland as "a world-recognised location" for the manufacture and development of medical devices.
She noted that the new development should also provide new opportunities for high quality employment for sub-contractors that will do business with Abbott.
Already a number of sub-supply companies have established in the West specifically to support other world leading medical devices companies that have located there.