In the past week, a transcript of the IEDR’s visit to the Joint Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources on November 18th last was published on Oireachtas.ie. The meeting saw the IEDR trot and explain their business to the committee.

A couple of interesting points were raised.

David Curtin, the CEO of the IEDR talks about the company:

The IE Domain Registry is a small company. We have 14 staff and an annual income of approximately €2.5 million.

A little later..

From 2003 to 2009, we have been able to give cumulative price reductions of 64% to the reseller group. The price has dropped from €50 per domain to €18. For customers who chose to come to us directly, the price is dropped from €125 to €62.

One does wonder then, how much income was generated back in 2003? Must be off the charts, yea?

My favourite part is this, though..

We have a reduced likelihood of illegal, explicit or immoral content on .ie websites.

This is because the IEDR, keyholder for the .ie domain space, has a very confining approval procedure. Justification is needed and hoops must be jumped through i.e. business names owners can register certain names that private individuals cannot. Unless of course, one changes there name by deed pole!

The word ‘immoral’, irks doesn’t it? Nanny, how are ya?

The session continued last week, so looking forward to part deux.

Edit: Added the justification paragraph for those unused to the IEDR procedure.

And POW! It’s Monday. Unscheduled trip away from Election. ie Towers last week, but back in the game.

What a week! We’re awaiting Cowentube to reflect on the marches to the French embassy and the elimination of Jedward.

To dust off the start of the week, some links..

Suzy on Amnesty International’s Colm O’Gorman and the dangers of retweeting.

The Story examines the Baker Tilly report on suspected mismanagement at Iarnród Eireann.

Twenty Major on Mary White’s Lincolnisms.

And just because you are missing Jedward!

Jezebel are liveblogging Sarah Palin’s appearance on Oprah right now. Pop over and check it out as a teaser for the video!

This week has been a Seanad love-in around these parts.. Let’s finish off the week on the same note. Seanad and NAMAlicious!

FG’s Jerry Buttimer bemoans the fact the FF senators bear an unrequited love for their leadership.

Ouchies, McOuchies. FG’s Paschal Donohoe on yet another Harris riposte.

Paschal was tweeting a storm (there was talk of sending him a Slanket on the liveblog), so just another. As the voting on the amendment continued late into the evening, a red dot appeared on the voting monitor somewhere on the independent’s benches. Vote after vote on the amendments, that red dot voted with the Government. Bloggers were at a loss to begin with and then came the confirmation that independent Senator backing the Government was Joe O’Toole.

Hehe, biscuit taken and scoffed!

Not to be outdone, our favourite Green Senator Dan Boyle, was tweeting in his own special fashion. A touch of penis envy?

Politics.ie’s David Cochrane was tempted and engaged.

What the hell? Does Dan Boyle really believe that the content of NAMA is almost irrelevent to the people?

Fake Greens are representing. Best new follow this week – @fakegreens_ie.

There’s a new video on the FF site with Cowen doing a Dunphy on Ireland’s chance for the World Cup Qualifier.

Does it seem weird that this fun blast is published the very day NAMA ping pongs from Seanad to Dail to Seanad, with a new amendment sandwiched in there? I wonder if Cowen is looking at Bertie’s post-Taoiseach gig as a pundit and planning for the worst!