IDA defends PayPal decision to employ foreign workers

The IDA is defending PayPal after it emerged that half of the 1,000 new jobs created at the firm will be filled by foreign workers.

Paypal says it's been forced to bring in staff from abroad, because of the poor standard of languages here.

But the Industrial Development Agency says it's natural for companies to target native speakers for their Europe-wide customer care centres.

And the Chief Executive of IDA Ireland, Barry O'Leary, says the jobs will still benefit the local economy: "With 500 Irish and 500 non-Irish jobs, a thousand extra jobs in the locality, it means there is an indirect knock-on effect on the economy.

"There's a big economic impact in the Dundalk area, particularly if you take into account the people who come in - they will have to be renting apartments and spedning money in hotels and restaurants."