Today (Thursday) sees the official opening of the new Glanbia Ingredients Ireland (GII) dairy processing facility in Belview on the Kilkenny/Waterford border.

It is the first greenfield primary dairy processing facility to be commissioned in Ireland in more than 40 years. At peak season, the plant will take in 104 milk lorries per day.

Dairy farmers who attended plant tours on Wednesday were told that the €200m project was completed on time and on budget – despite a €35m change mid-project to upgrade to infant formula specification.

GII was formed in November 2012 as a joint venture between Glanbia Co-op and Glanbia plc. In May 2013, the sod to commence the Belview project was turned by the then Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan.

He returns as the EU Commissioner for Agriculture on Thursday for the official opening.

An Taoiseach Enda Kenny will be the guest of honour, while Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney and Minister for Jobs, Trade and Innovation Richard Bruton will also participate.

Minister Coveney told the Dáil on Wednesday night that Belview “represents the largest indigenous infrastructure investment made by an Irish company in 80 years”.

He also added that the “project can be viewed as emblematic of the wider ambition in the Irish dairy sector as we approach quota abolition”.