Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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4. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the protections in place to ensure the .ie web domain is protected post-Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4636/21]

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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5. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if businesses retain a .ie web domain if they are not based in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4637/21]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 and 5 together.

Now that the UK has formally left the EU single market on 1 January 2021, Irish consumers who are considering making online purchases are advised to exercise additional care.

A website with a .ie domain name, does not necessarily mean that the entity which owns and operates the website is based in Ireland.

My Department has no function in relation to the specific issue raised by the Deputy.

In 2000, legislation was enacted giving the then Minister for Public Enterprise the power to make regulations regarding the registration of .ie domain names. In 2007 this power was transferred to the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). ComReg is statutorily independent in the exercise of its functions.