Sir, – I have an issue with the IEDR (Domain Registry) and the 175,000 domain names that it monitors. Apparently it is not free to publicise worldwide the amount of internet, based in Ireland, activity that is represented by IE domains. This, in my view, is an opportunity lost in creating employment and inward-bound business to Ireland. Perhaps the erudite readership of The Irish Timescould comment, particularly those citing our best excuses for not doing things, eg, "Ah shure under data protection we can't do that".
IE business domains and what they do could be disseminated through our embassies to represent the burgeoning amount of Irish business that is conducted online.
As I understand it, the IEDR claims it is bound by “data protection information” legislation and is not permitted to circulate information on Irish business conducted on the web. I have yet to receive an answer from it that satisfied me on the issue – it steadfastly refuses, I feel, to adequately explain why we cannot “show off” our internet activity worldwide. Is this a digital version of shooting oneself in the foot? I have written separately to Minister for Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation Richard Bruton, via his IE website, on this specific matter. – Yours, etc,