Examiner Publications, the publisher of the Irish Examiner, has stopped printing the Irish editions of The Times and parts of The Sunday Times, with effect from last weekend.

The contract, with News International, was understood to have been in excess of £1 million (€1.27 million) a year.

The decision was taken in response to News International's move to build its own Irish printing press in a joint venture with Smurfit Group. The two companies have bought a 10-acre site outside Kells, Co Meath for a reported £600,000 and are applying for planning permission to build an 80,000 sq ft facility. News International is understood to be transferring three surplus presses from Germany for the new operation which will print Irish editions of the two broadsheets as well as other News International titles including the Irish Sun.

Examiner Publications decided to end the arrangement with News International now rather than wait until the new press became operational, probably next year. "We wanted to keep our options open," said Mr Alan Crosbie, the chief executive of Examiner Publications. The company has previously considered starting its own Sunday publication, but Mr Crosbie would not say if it was currently being considered. Mr Crosbie added that the company had also increased the print run of The Irish Examiner as part of its national relaunch which made printing The Times less attractive. News International will now switch the printing of the two titles to its plant outside Liverpool at Knowlesly.

The move will restrict The Times and The Sunday Times' ability to add pages and editorial for the Irish market.