The domain name registry in the Republic has formally separated from UCD to become an independent service - Domain Registry Limited. It will register and allocate all .ie domain names on behalf of domain name users.

Mr Mike Fagan will continue as general manager of the company, and three UCD staff members have joined the board.

Prior to splitting from UCD, the organisation registered some 18,000 websites to businesses, charging £40 per customer to Internet service providers and about £100 to individual customers.

Mr Fagan said the registry would operate as a not-for-profit organisation and would apply for charitable status. This would enable it to provide scholarships or research grants, he added.