A global biotechnology manufacturing firm is to create 400 new jobs in Ireland.
Shire says the positions will be created over the next four years with an investment of some €354m.
The company is to create a new, state of the art biologics manufacturing campus - which it expects will lead to the creation of approximately 400 permanent jobs on a 120 acre site at Piercetown.
Construction will begin in mid-2016, with the site expected to be operational by mid-2019.
Shire chief executive officer, Flemming Ornskov, commented: "The expansion will enable us to meet increasing product demands, support our pipeline and, ultimately, help more patients".
"We are delighted to be expanding our operations in Ireland, where we have strong, existing relationships".
"The new campus in County Meath will provide necessary geographic diversification and will help us serve our growing international business".
While the head of IDA Ireland, Martin Shanahan, added: "Ireland is an attractive location for many industries, but for the life sciences and biotechnology sectors in particular".
"These are sectors in which we excel and we are very pleased that Shire is building on its existing presence here with the development of a new campus at Piercetown, County Meath".
