IE Domain Registry t/a .IE Annual Report 2021

As a company limited by guarantee, .IE’s financial reserves are its only source of capital and it is therefore critically important that we maintain a capital base fully adequate to meet current and prospective business requirements. In recording an after-tax surplus of €489k we improved our financial strength in 2021. Net liquid funds totalled €4.3m at year end. The Company’s financial position remains strong and in line with our financial objectives. It is these financial reserves which empowers us to invest €1 million in programmes such as the .IE Digital Town programme, referenced below. 2021 was another successful year for .IE as our database at the end of 2021 was 330,108 .ie domains, with 62,198 new registrations in 2021, which are 24% higher than pre-pandemic 2019 numbers. European country registries also experienced increased growth and according to the CENTR 2021 report, the .ie domain showed the third highest year on year growth, ahead of France and Italy. In its first full year of operation in 2021, the TITAN registration system was used by our Registrars and channel partners to drive their own growth and expansion. The Board was pleased to support and authorise a significant investment in licensing this state-of-the-art domain registry management system, which was customised in 2020 for the .ie namespace. The Board approved an investment of €1 million in the .IE Digital Town programme. The three pillars of this 4-year programme have been developed to foster digital enhancement and adoption in Ireland; helping businesses, citizens and communities to harness the benefits of the internet and to thrive online. The Board congratulates the winners of the inaugural .IE Digital Town awards, which were presented by Minister Damien English T.D at a virtual awards ceremony in June 2021. I would like to acknowledge the continued dedication and diligence of our Policy Advisory Committee (PAC) which was established in 2015 to advise the Board on policy matters. Representative of a broad range of stakeholders, the PAC continued in 2021 to play an important role in assisting us to develop our policies in line with the changing internet cybersecurity environment, while also assisting the Board in balancing the rights, responsibilities and obligations of all parties. On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank the members for their contribution to the ongoing policy development process at the registry. On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank our Chief Executive, the executive team and all our staff for their continued dedication and commitment in 2021. In particular, the Board appreciates the team’s commitment to building the .IE brand and to maintaining a resilient technical infrastructure, particularly given the challenging circumstances during the two years of pandemic-related restrictions. To deliver on our ambitious plans set out in the Strategy 2024, it is vital that we continue to attract, nurture and retain talent. There is intense competition for talent in the digital economy, but .IE is viewed as a trustworthy organisation with a purpose and values which are attractive for highly motivated individuals who want to make a positive contribution to the internet community. We were pleased to achieve the KeepWell accreditation in 2021 and join the Top 100 ranked companies Leading in Wellbeing. Outlook The outlook for the digital economy is extremely positive, with the national opportunity to build on the acceleration of digital transformation enforced by the Covid-related lockdowns. The challenge will be to ensure that Ireland’s towns and micro businesses can leverage long-term benefits from new levels of productivity and e-commerce sales, and retain the benefits of remote working. We welcome the EU regulatory focus on cybersecurity and ongoing data protection. However, we are aware of the potential for disruption and the challenges and implications for the future cost base for our channel, and for SMEs broadly, who are at the coalface in implementing new systems and processes in order to ensure compliance. In this context, as an Operator of Essential Services, designated by the Department of Communications, we are actively engaged in developing responses to the imminent expansion of the EU regulatory environment. We are confident that the .IE team will continue to provide efficient infrastructure and services to the citizens and businesses of Ireland and help them thrive online. Louise English Chair 29 July 2022 Chair’s Statement IE Domain Registry CLG t/a .IE / Annual Report & Review 2021 5