Assurances on the future of almost 1,000 jobs in the Midlands and West are being sought after news that Abbott Laboratories is to sell its diagnostics division to General Electric for more than $8 billion.
Abbott's plants in Longford and Sligo were opened and expanded several years ago at a cost of €115m. Significant support was provided by state agencies and today IDA Ireland said it was hopeful the sale would not have a negative impact on the firm's Irish operation.
Abbott is Ireland's largest diagnostics company and this announcement will see GE build on its existing diagnostics operation in County Cork.
With 60,000 employees worldwide, concern is being expressed for jobs. 350 people work at the Longford facility and 550 in Sligo.
Abbott's molecular diagnostics and diabetes care businesses are not included in the deal. Overall Abbott has eight sites in Ireland, employing 3,400 people.
The director of the Irish Medical Devices Association, said acquisitions and mergers are now commonplace in the sector and it is inevitable ownership of individual sites operating here will change from time to time.
