IRELAND is competing with Wales for a $30 million (£19.2 million) investment which would create up to 300 jobs, according to an executive at the St Louis based industrial group Emerson Electric.

The compressor plant is at the "investigation stage", Welshbased Control Techniques managing director Mr Trevor Wheatley told The Irish Times. The Emerson division seeking a site is Copeland, which produces compressors for refrigeration.

An IDA spokesman said the projects have not reached to negotiation stage and there are nor firm proposals on the table.