Amazon has announced that it will launch a new dedicated website for Ireland – Amazon.ie – in 2025.
Currently, most Irish customers use Amazon sites based in the UK or other European countries.
The company said the Irish site will mean that users will be able to avoid additional customs charges and currency conversion fees.
It will also lead to faster delivery and returns for many items.
In 2022, Amazon opened a new warehouse and distribution centre in Dublin which employs 500 people.
At the time, the company said the facility would be a stepping stone to the launch of an Ireland-specific website in the future.
Amazon said the new site will offer more products from Irish businesses.
The company currently employs around 6,500 people in Cork, Dublin and Drogheda.
Amazon said that the new website will lead to the creation of some additional jobs with details to be announced in the coming months.
“This is great news for Irish customers,” said Darragh Kelly, Ireland General Manager for Customer Fulfilment at Amazon.
“Launching in 2025, Amazon.ie will lead to continued improvements of our customer experience.
“It will see low prices in euros as well as removing additional customs charges that we see currently.”
Issues related to workers’ rights, union recognition and staff surveillance have led to strikes and protests at Amazon facilities in the UK, US and parts of Europe.
“We respect the rights of employees to join a union or not join a union,” Mr Kelly said.
“We build a great working environment for employees, and our focus is to grow and scale our employees’ development and make us one of the leading employers in Ireland.”
Trade unions from 11 different European countries, including Ireland, recently wrote to data protection authorities asking them to investigate Amazon’s practices of tracking and monitoring staff.
“I can only speak for what we run here and that’s not something that we engage in within how we run Amazon operations,” Mr Kelly said.
“We focus on our overall process and how we deliver for our customers every day.”
Drink Botanicals Ireland, a producer of dried garnishes and syrups, sells its products on Amazon’s sites in the UK, US and Europe,
The company is welcoming the launch of an Irish site.
“For Irish sellers, a dedicated online store makes it easier to compete with larger brands and attract more customers both in Ireland and overseas,” said Laura McCarthy, founder of Drink Botanicals Ireland.
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Peter Burke said he was pleased to see Amazon continuing to grow its presence in Ireland.
“The launch of an Irish store will enhance customer experiences in Ireland and provide a significant platform for Irish SMEs to expand their online presence and grow their business,” Mr Burke said.
IDA Ireland CEO Michael Lohan said the launch of Amazon.ie is a show of the company’s commitment to its Irish operations.
“It reinforces the company’s existing and strong Irish presence and will enhance the benefits already delivered to Ireland through the broad base of strategic activities it carries out here,” Mr Lohan said.