Taoiseach Enda Kenny has officially opened Ebay’s new European headquarters in Dundalk.

The Co Louth facility will be responsible for customer service, risk prevention, financial operations, merchant services and sales for the online auction company and its payment service subsidiary Paypal across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Paypal president David Marcus said 1,450 people would be employed at the centre in the coming years, bringing the total number of employees in Ireland to about 3,000.

He said the “broad set of skills” available in the Irish market made it an attractive place to be located.

The company opened its Irish operation with 25 staff in 2003. Last year it invested €15 million in a centre of excellence in Blanchardstown, Dublin.