The IE Domain Registry (IEDR), the authority responsible for the allocation of Irish Internet domain names, is to become a private company by the end of March following sustained pressure from the Department of Enterprise.
The IEDR, at present run by University College Dublin, was felt by the Department to be too restrictive and cumbersome with regard to the allocation of domain names, and "was not keeping pace with the development of e-commerce," according to a source close to the IEDR.
UCD will maintain a minority presence on the board of the new private company, to be known as IE Domain Registry Limited. It is expected UCD will benefit from a computer scholarship being set up on its behalf by the IEDR.
Following the split from UCD, the IEDR is to begin a consultative process whereby four fundamental changes to the way it allocates domain names will be debated between the IEDR, the Government and the Internet industry in Ireland.
The changes will mean that for the first time generic domain names will be accepted for registration (e.g. www.sport.ie) and applicants will be able to claim their domain names instantly, with the following four to six weeks to supply the relevant documentation in support of their application.
"We feel there are a lot of people out there whose business is getting held up while they are awaiting for their domain name to be registered," said Mr Mike Fagan of the IEDR. "We will offer domain names on the principle of assertion, whereby companies will have four to six weeks to supply documentation to show they have a right to the name."
An online payment facility will be available to speed up the process further, making it similar in speed to the registration of .com domain names. The Irish domain name is also to be expanded to cover the 32 counties and not just the 26 as was previously the case.
This is seen as a move to strengthen the idea that cross-Border e-commerce could boost industry in the North. The final proposal, and which Mr Fagan says may find the most opposition, is the registration of trademarks under the .ie domain for companies who do not trade in the Republic.
