Tánaiste opens eBay/PayPal’s facility in Blanchardstown

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mary Harney TD officially opened eBay’s European Customer Support Centre and PayPal’s International Headquarters in Blanchardstown today (Monday 10^th May 2004).

Ebay/PayPal is projected to employ 800 people by 2005 at its facility in Blanchardstown. eBay is the World’s Online Marketplace™ for the sale of goods and services by individuals and businesses and PayPal is a market leader and provider of secure payment services used in online transactions.

In September 2003 eBay/PayPal announced that it had selected Dublin as its location for investment in Europe, with the support of IDA Ireland, and today Ms Meg Whitman, President and CEO of eBay Inc. hosted the official opening of this world-leading, internet company’s operations in Ireland.

Speaking at the official opening the Tánaiste said: “eBay/PayPal’s presence in Ireland is strongly welcomed. Having such a world leading internet company located here confirms our position as one of the leading locations in Europe for the digital business sector.

The Tánaiste said that it was great to see such a rapid start-up with over 200 people recruited already and many more positions to be filled over the coming months.

“Three of the world’s highest profile internet companies have a presence in Ireland and they are finding that the skills and knowledge that they require to operate successfully are here. Indeed eBay/PayPal chose Dublin precisely because it has a good supply of people with skills and experience in the technical and financial services industries and because of its excellent business and technology infrastructure. The company is also providing many of our young people with the welcome opportunity to work in a major multinational corporation offering excellent employment in a modern and progressive environment. Their presence here is testament to the fact that Ireland is attracting a new type of investment", the Tánaiste added.

EBay/PayPal’s operations in Ireland allow the company to deliver a key service to their European market. The Customer Support Centre in Blanchardstown is the company’s second in Europe and supports users in the UK, Ireland and other European countries and PayPal’s International Headquarters in Blanchardstown also supports the company’s expansion into Europe and carries out functions such as customer services, payment processing and fraud prevention.