IE Domain Registry t/a .IE

The Company prioritises the values of equality and excellence in all dealings with our key stakeholders, including customers (Registrars), domain holders (Registrants), employees of the Company and the local internet community. We operate with integrity and ethical values while also adhering to strict corporate governance guidelines. In supporting the local internet community, we always work with enthusiasm, dedication and pride. The local internet community Through our memberships and sponsorships of industry awards and events, the Company usually provides a modest level of financial support to the local internet community. However, unfortunately a lot of planned events did not go ahead due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Nevertheless in 2020, we sponsored the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition , supported Cyber Ireland by becoming members and partnered with Digital Business Ireland. The Company has provided free .ie domain name registrations to 6,989 registered charities, in co- operation with a number of our accredited Registrars. Domain names are provided free of charge to those organisations which are registered as charities and have a valid CHY number issued by the Revenue Commissioners. As part of the Getting Citizens Online Scheme, an initiative of the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, the Company was involved in the training of 4,700 “non-liners” to date, including 276 during the period from January to March 2020. Face to face teaching stopped in March, in line with government restrictions. The scheme provides digital skills training for citizens who have never used the internet, with a view to removing a key barrier to digital adoption. It is hoped that training will resume as soon as it is safe to do so. Supporting the business community during Covid-19 lockdowns In response to the business consequences of Covid-19 restrictions, the Company invoked its Registrant Protection Fund in Q2 2020 to provide limited support to domain holders in financial difficulty. Registrars used their judgement and applied the renewal fee waiver to SME companies they felt were in genuine difficulty. The fund was capped at 2% of a Registrars’ renewals in a given month. A number of our key stakeholders turned to us for digital content for their members when the first Covid-19 lockdown took effect. The objective of our content was to outline the benefits of digital adoption and demonstrate how important a website was to a business, allowing them to pivot their offerings online. This included delivering webinars for the Small Firms Association, Guaranteed Irish and the Society of Chartered Surveyors in Ireland and also contributing to podcasts. We partnered with Guaranteed Irish on a radio advertisement showing our support for Irish businesses and developed a Business Supports webpage collating resources from various organisations. Employees The Company aims to be a good employer in all respects, putting our staff’s wellbeing at the forefront of our decisions. We strive to lead the way in employee well-being through our commitment to instilling and maintaining a “Best Practice Approach”, ensuring a lasting and positive impact on our staff. From induction and on-boarding, through to continuous personal and professional development, we seek to support staff members in their journey with us. The Staff Handbook sets out the HR policies and procedures, and is provided to all new employees as part of their induction. It also includes whistleblower provisions and procedures for staff raising matters in confidence, including providing direct lines of communication to Board members. Corporate Governance IE Domain Registry CLG t/a .IE / Annual Report & Review 2020 14 Corporate Social Responsibility The Company operates a profit-for-good mandate, and one of .IE’s strategic priorities is to support and serve the needs of the local internet community. The directors and management strive to be fair, equitable and transparent, and to balance the rights and responsibilities of all stakeholders. We understand the importance of active communication and engagement with our internal and external stakeholders.

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