February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Google announced the jobs in conjunction with the Industrial Development Authority (IDA) — the state agency dedicated to attracting foreign investment. Ireland plays host to the Internet company’s European headquarters, which already employs 500 people, and is home to Google’s largest operation outside of the U.S.
The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Micheal Martin and Google’s European director John Herlihy officially unveiled the announcement.
The company said many of the jobs would require third-level qualifications and multi-lingual skills. In order to accommodate the enlarged work force, the company has signed a lease for a further 100,000 square feet of office space at Barrow Street in the capital.
“Basing our European operations here in Dublin has proven to be a great decision,” Herlihy said.
“We have found that the quality of the Irish workforce has enabled us to improve our products and services in a way that has proven to be highly beneficial for our customers, both users and advertisers.
“We really appreciate the support of the Irish Government and the assistance of IDA Ireland in developing our business here.”
The enterprise minister said he believed that Google’s decision to invest further in the Irish economy was evidence that Ireland was a premier location for high-tech companies.
“Following this investment, Google will become, in a very short period of time, one of the most substantial business support integration and development operations in Ireland,” said Martin.
“This decision yet again demonstrates that Ireland is by far and away the primary location for the digital media industry in Europe and second only to Silicon Valley in the US.
He said the decision was “a tremendous vote of confidence in Ireland’s ability to provide the levels of skills and expertise necessary for success.
“The Irish management and workforce are to be congratulated on the success of the company here to date – a factor that considerably influenced Google’s decision to expand in Ireland.”
The new jobs have been widely welcomed in government circles — their announcement coming less than a week than finance minister Brian Cowen’s budget speech.
Accounts filed by Google Ireland show it had turnover of