SIPTU will meet senior management from Bose in county Monaghan to discuss the threatened closure of the plant - with the loss of around 140 jobs.

Last week, the headphone and audio manufcaturer announced the move as part of a worldwide cost-cutting programme.

The plant's operations will transfer to facilities in Malaysia and Mexico. The Carrickmacross factory has been in operation since 1978.

Senior managers from the US are due to visit the factory later.

Last week, local Sinn Féin MEP Matt Carthy responded to the new with a statement saying: “Today’s announcement is not just a harsh blow to the staff and their families but to the wider community and local economy, which will be severely impacted by the closure of the plant.

“Unfortunately, this area has been ignored by too long by successive Governments. I recently highlighted the fact that Monaghan has only has two visits by the IDA in the past 5 years and many will remember that Bose was the last significant employer attracted to this region by the IDA in the late 70s," he said.