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VIDEO GAMES manufacturer Electronic Arts has announced it will create 300 new jobs by expanding its presence in Galway.
The customer services jobs will be created thorough an IDA-supported expansion of EA’s European Customer Experience Centre of Excellence, which opened with 200 jobs less than a year ago.
The centre will provide multilingual customer services for the large stable of EA games, including the likes of The Sims, the FIFA franchise, Tiger Woods Golf and the Need for Speed series.
EA chief operating officer Peter Moore said the Galway facility was “the focal point of our strategy to serve gamers on a global basis”.
“Galway’s mix of technology infrastructure and talent availability, combined with a pro-business environment, will help us expand on our existing foundation here. We’re proud to be part of Ireland’s growth into cutting edge digital industries,” Moore said.
Announcing the expansion in Dublin, Taoiseach Enda Kenny described the EA expansion as “a real endorsement of Ireland’s ability to meet the needs of leading multinational companies in the digital media space”.
Jobs minister Richard Bruton said the continued implementation of the government’s Action Plan for Jobs would ensure further similar developments in Ireland in the coming years.
Recruitment for the positions is underway at www.jobs.ea.com.
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Excellent news, well done very involved.
How many multilingual unemployed people do we have in Galway?
These jobs will result in us having to bring in more immigrants which in turn will see them bringing their families with them adding to the schools, hospitals and child benefit system of the state. Instead of benefiting Ireland it will just add to our problems.
EA are a US company so expect any extra tax to end up going outside of Ireland just like all the other US multinaitonals.
Its not Jobs like these we need, its low skilled jobs for the majority of the 450,000 unemployed.
Dey tuk r jobs?
Or qualified unemployed people could move to Galway. You can’t expect a job in your field to open up 5 mins from your house.
Cue Enda the Eejit and Trickie Dickie out for the photo-op.
Its quiet simple.
How many multilingual unemployed people do we have ?
Id say its a safe bet that most of the unemployed in Ireland are low skilled. If anyone had multilingual skills which these new jobs require they most likely left a long time ago,
Typical narrow-minded poor-mouth whest claptrap. Have a look around you at the amount of shuttered up shopfronts and cafes around Galway.
Even if they brought in 400 foreigners, those people would be on well paid salaries, paying rent to local landlords, shopping in local supermarkets, eating in city restaurants and drinking in bars, filling empty cinemas and venues… It literally means 10s if not 100s of millions € in flowing into the city economy every year, trickling down and supporting struggling local businesses and employment and probably leading to demand for new ones.
You’re hard to please. European languages are taught in Irish schools. We should be just as capable of being multilingual as anyone else.
Rather than only having low-skilled jobs in Ireland, maybe Irish people should learn some more skills. People on social welfare have many training and education courses available to them free of charge.
http://www.fas.ie/en/Training/Home/default.htm
http://www.skillnets.ie/job-seekers
http://www.bluebrick.ie/
No one is barring anyone from applying, these jobs could all be filled with Irish jobseekers. Those multilingual job centres have been mushrooming over the last couple of years, since before the boom peak. Even since 2008 there was more than enough time to learn a language or to brush on a language you had in school to the degree where you can deal with a range of typical scenarios involved. Most FE schools have evening classes, not to mention private schools or digital self-study. I’d be surprised if there was no grant or course available from the likes of FAS too. You could also go to and do some summer work in France or Germany to get more skills from language immersion.
But it’s easier to give out about furriners, or to feck off to Bondi beach.
They are not just multilingual jobs:
The Opportunities:
Our Worldwide Customer Experience team in Galway cover areas that include:
-(Multilingual) Game Support
-Account and Billing Support
-Technical Customer Support
-Project Management
-Training
-Global Live Operations
Lots of opportunities there for irish people.
dookk ur dobbbbbsss
Excellent news
Bloody iphone, everybody involved
Remember the paypal jobs announced not long ago?
Paypal are now advertising these jobs abroad as nobody suitable in Ireland could be found.
most of the paypal jobs were for multilingual posts, just like these new EA ones.
And as we all know it is not possible for an Irish person to speak foreign languages.
So people should learn a language?
Your absolute ignorance is astounding.
So e of the comments here are truly baffling , I’m not sure what decade some people think they are living in , maybe they need to fully get a grip of how much of a serious ole the country is in , in fact unemployment currently is a major major challenge for Europe and in fact globally. Spain has 20 % , and yet when there is an announcement like this you have whiners and moaners who aren’t happy about 300 new jobs being created because they are 300 of a particular type that they would prefer…… Seriously….and if new customers are generated for local coffee shops , need places rent , need haircuts and local services you still want to complain , because you don’t think there enough Irish multi lingual speakers your complaining, instead of them ups killing for the modern world your complaining that YOU think jobs that only can be met by Irish people with a more narrow skill set should be created…..is this code for you cant speak additional languages so you want to complain…….you are stuck in a timewarp with a complete lack of understanding of the challenges addressing Ireland , if you stay in that mindset you are going to have a very miserable life for years ahead because there may never be a time again when there’s job announcements for the west where only 300 “Irish” people can apply …..when there are major global players creating jobs it should be welcomed, you might not like that fact but as you say that’s the cold hard truth.
The point is simple.
Ireland is screwed.
Creating 300 jobs for people outside of ireland does sweet FA for Ireland.
But lets not get in the way of making you feel all PC fluffy inside.
@Real Ireland
What does this have to do with being politically correct?
If unskilled Irish people want to get jobs, they will have to learn a skill. You can’t just sit on your backside and expect jobs to be provided that suit you. I wouldn’t employ someone with that attitude, no matter how low-skilled the job was.
@Real, you really need to tone down your posts, have a look at the opportunities, they’re not all multilingual.
the wages in galway won’t be as sky high as the ones in the east of the country. this is why coke moved its operations from dundalk to mayo, where i work. we also don’t have a union, who’s demands are seen as a big reason the dundalk plant closed. we’re treated very well before anyone asks!
To “Real Ireland”s point, ignoring the racist undertones of your posts they still make no sense. You say anyone that is multilingual and irish would already have a job? maybe, but if they don’t, don’t you think its better they stay in this country instead of having to go abroad like thousands of others every week? If people from abroad come in to secure jobs, than so be it. As long as they pay tax and help us get out of this mess, than great. you’re “only help the irish get jobs” is stone age and pathetic
Evidence tells us that most of these jobs will be filled by foreign workers. Paypal being the latest example.
How can you be sure if the tax they pay outweighs the gains they get?
for all we know these jobs could be minimum wage, thus tax is low, if they have children they can claim child benefit even if their child dosent live in Ireland.
If they decide to move their family to Ireland they will then add to the state costs in Benefits, Education, Health etc.
How is any of that positive?
yes, i read your post but i still don’t understand why your not happy. are you seriously suggesting that when these companies come to us with jobs, we say “only low standard jobs because we want them for irish people!!”. the irony to that it wasn’t so long ago we wouldn’t touch low standard jobs and left them for the polish. this is 300 new jobs for the west of ireland, thats all that matters
than what you’re talking about is welfare reform rather than just turning down jobs!!! like i said before, get out of the stone age
Ea closed popcap games in dublin with the loss of 100 jobs these are more likely not new jobs but ones,being moved to take advantage of ida money
I am happy that there are new jobs being announced for Galway. However people above noted very valuable points.
EA closed popcap with the loss of 100 jobs some of these jobs in Galway will be these popcap.
There are an awful lot of jobs being advertised for multi lingual speakers. Ireland is not over run with these speakers and therefore jobs are taken by people coming into the country without the benefit to the Irish people who are unemployed.
I understand the wider good of this but it is not solving the crisis of our people being able to work or get a
job. It is about time our government helped others.
The point IS simple alrite ….The 300 jobs are located in Ireland ,
….ill leave your idiotic comment about feeling PC fluffy to one side, I’d expect nothing less than personal insults from an idiot ….instead of debating the issue
Dave you clearly no nothing about Economics.
Ireland is bankrupt.
Creating 300 Jobs with IDA money to employ 300 non nationals will cost the state more money we dont have.
How about creating 300 jobs that actually reduced our unemployment, thus creating more wealth for the economy which in turn reduces our level of debt and puts us in a good position to finally get out of the mess we are in.
Instead of simply attacking me do the math and come back and debate.
sorry, red thumb by mistake.
@real There are opportunities for non-multilingual people being advertised there. And thats the last time I’m posting this. Read the advert, or use google like the rest of us if you don’t believe me.
@ Irish Red, please could you post the link to the Advert.
Every news report I see simply mention 300 new jobs at its European Customer Experience Centre of Excellence.
I.E
Electronic Arts is to create 300 new jobs at its European Customer Experience Centre of Excellence, which will be the focal point of the company’s strategy to serve gamers on a worldwide basis.
http://www.siliconrepublic.com/careers/item/29264-ea-to-create-300-new-jobs/
@ Real Ireland, why assume that 100% of those 300 jobs will be taken by ”non nationals”?
Also your point re ”How about creating 300 jobs that actually reduced our unemployment?” fails to take into account the fact that non-Irish EU citizens and those from outside the EU (both technically ”non nationals”) are currently unemployed in Ireland and may be receiving social welfare. If these people move from the Live Register to a paid job where they’ll be paying PRSI, income tax, the USC charge etc. then surely this should be seen as a positive development?
Also, does it matter that these people may shop in Polish stores? Either way they’ll still pay VAT of 23% on all their purchases and this in turn will benefit the economy.
I clearly know nothing about economics , I have a masters degree in business thanks , but this is not a personal debate about me , the forum is about the announcement that the major games company have announced 300 new jobs to be located in the west and I find it baffling that given the state of the economy that people like you would only want to complain and whine about that…… but hey each to their own , your entitled to think what you like ……I just completely disagree with you.
EA, Mylan, sap, Aviva, merit…..
Right people of Waterford, I think it is time to close the doors and just move to Galway, last one out turn off the lights.
Tis obvious that having no minister in this corrupt little country means your area becomes seriously disadvantaged.
Earlier this month it emerged that PayPal, which just moved to Dundalk, will fill at least half of its 1,000 jobs with a workforce from abroad. These workers will travel to Ireland and to the unemployment blackspot that is Dundalk, and take up at least 500 of the new positions.
New jobs on horizon not always good news for local unemployed
http://www.independent.ie/business/new-jobs-on-horizon-not-always-good-news-for-local-unemployed-3180543.html
LOL,
All those dislikes for the truth!
None of the words were mine, they came from the Irish Indo.
Truth must hurt the PC Brigade.
You are unreal real Ireland!!! Those are some of the stupidest comments I’ve ever seen on this site & there’s a lot of competition.
And then at least 500 extra people from outside Ireland will be spending their money in Dundalk, thereby allowing native Irish businesses to profit from PayPal’s job creation. Would it be ideal if all 1,000 of those jobs were from people currently resident in Ireland and unemployed? Yes, but we don’t live in an ideal world. The fact is the more people that are working, the more money is spent in local economies and the greater the tax take to the state. In my opinion a jobs announcement such as with EA today is great news.
Yes please please say no more…
But, But, but our TDs promised us job losses, mass closures, tumbleweed, hammer blows and devastation when the vital airporteen closed?!
Yes Irish people can speak multilingual languages.
But as Paypal discovered we dont have enough of these people in Ireland.
As for the poster who said they will shop locally, evidence already tells is that they shop in their own stores, Polish,,African etc.
We also know from previous experience that these jobs are low paid and vast sums of money leaves Ireland as they send a lot home and dont spend it in the local economy.
People can dislike my comments but its the cold hard truth.
@ Real Ireland. I would be interested to know what ‘multilingual languages’ means.
realireland is a troll
Electronic Arts to create 300 jobs in Galway
http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0918/electronic-arts-to-create-300-jobs-in-galway-business.html
The 300 new jobs will provide multilingual international support
Do the Math
I think Real Ireland is making a fair point. No matter how many languages are studied in school the person wont have fluency unless they go abroad and immerse themselves in the language. Some courses do this by allowing students to do an exchange year. However more of it seems to be needed. For companies it is probably more handy to bring in immigrants on a cheaper wage. If the company decides to head elsewhere after a few years the state picks up the tab. It seems a lot of these companies are only here for the corporate tax rate. You would wonder if the money would be better served funding research.
Perhaps a rethink and a campaign to promote more openness to foreign languages amoung the young would be needed. How many young people go travelling for months or years? Loads. Do they use any language other than English on their way? Nope.
As a result, if they need to work or emigrate they eliminate themselves from all multilingual jobs here as well as from continental Europe, then despair about harsh immigration conditions and expensive flights to Australia or Canada. You could be working in Germany or France my friend, two hours flight or a good drive from home. No need to subject yourself to humiliating procedures or to remove yourself halfway around the world chasing English speaking jobs.
As you have a masters degree in business I see where your coming from.
Profit.
ill say no more.
P.S
I have a masters degree in Economics
You do in your aras!
Great news but I wonder is anyone keeping track of the number of net jobs so far this year? I.e the number of jobs created minus the number of redundancies. I’d hope that this is a positive figure but it seems that announcements about redundancies are almost as common now as job announcements.
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