32.— (1) The purpose of this Part is to facilitate easy comprehension, fairness, transparency, avoidance of deception, promotion of fair competition and public confidence with respect to the use of ".ie" domain names.

(2) A person shall not use an ".ie" domain name unless the name is registered in accordance with regulations made under this section.

(3) The Commission may make regulations for the purposes of this section, but only after consultation with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and such other persons and public bodies (if any) as the Commission thinks appropriate.

(4) In particular, regulations under subsection (3) may do all or any of the following:

(a) specify an entity as the authority authorised to register ".ie" domain names;

(b) prescribe the form and manner in which an application for registration or renewal of registration of an ".ie" domain name is to be made;

(c) prescribe the circumstances and manner in which, the terms on which and the period for which an ".ie" domain name may be registered;

(d) prescribe the circumstances and manner in which, the terms on which and the period for which registration of an ".ie" domain name may be renewed;

(e) prescribe the circumstances and manner in which an application for registration or renewal of registration of an ".ie" domain name can be refused by the registering authority;

(f) empower the registering authority to revoke the registration of an ".ie" domain name in specified circumstances;

(g) confer a right of appeal against—

(i) a refusal of an application for registration or a renewal of registration of an ".ie" domain name, and

(ii) the revocation of the registration of such a name;

(h) provide for the procedure for hearing and determining appeals;

(i) prescribe the fees (if any) to be paid on registering and renewing the registration of an ".ie" domain name and the time within which and the manner in which such fees are to be paid;

(j) provide for such other matters relating to registration as appear to the Commission to be necessary or desirable for the purposes of this section.

(5) The regulations shall provide that persons who have registered ".ie" domain names before the regulations came into operation are taken to have registered those names in accordance with the regulations.

(6) A person who contravenes subsection (2), or contravenes a regulation made under this section, is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding €5,000.]