The new operation will provide support for the Wall Street listed company’s other European enterprises. It is expected the facilities will include executive offices, manufacturing, executive offices and shared services.

Warner Chilcott join the likes of Diageo, Xerox and Heinz in having operations in the region.

Warner Chilcott currently focus on the gastroenterology, women's healthcare, dermatology and urology segments of the US and Western European pharmaceuticals markets.

Since the dissolution of Warner-Lambert in 1996, Warner Chilcott has itself developed into a fully integrated pharmaceutical company producing a wide spectrum of leading brand products.

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Mary Coughlan said of the announcement: "I am delighted that Warner Chilcott has chosen Dundalk for this important operation. This development is excellent news for the North-East region and Ireland as a whole.”

She added, “Dundalk is one of Ireland's busiest economic corridors, between Dublin and Belfast, and today's announcement will bring new high quality employment opportunities to the region, adding further to the regions portfolio of world class Foreign Direct Investment companies operating here which include Xerox, Heinz, Moffett, Diageo, ABB, National Pen and Satir."