The US medical devices maker which took over the former Seagate plant in Clonmel, Co Tipperary, has exceeded its first-year job and production targets by 100 per cent, it said yesterday.

Guidant Ireland, which began manufacturing at the plant just three months ago, already employs 300 and plans to provide 1,200 jobs when fully operational.

The plant, bought last July, was officially opened yesterday by the Tanaiste, Ms Harney.

Referring to the Seagate closure, she recalled "the shock, anger and disappointment which pervaded the area at that time in the wake of the loss of 1,400 jobs".

Clonmel's new employer is part of the worldwide Guidant Corporation, formed in 1994.

The company designs and manufactures a range of devices for use in vascular intervention, cardiac rhythm management and cardiac and vascular surgery.

Guidant's vice-president, Mr Jay Graf, told staff members and their families at yesterday's opening ceremony that Clonmel was chosen above locations in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Puerto Rico when the company decided to expand.

He said all the locations had offered "good economics", but the company was impressed with the economic vision of the Government, which had "a more enlightened view" of how government and business could work together.

Guidant was also impressed by the quality of the Irish workforce.

Products to be made in Clonmel include pacemakers and defibrillators, used to correct abnormal heart rhythms.