Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This section provides for an amendment to section 9 of the Hallmarking Act 1981 to allow the Irish Assay Office and a sponsor to make arrangements for the sponsor's mark to be struck by the assay master or an authorised assay office as soon as is practicable after the submission of the article for the striking of an approved hallmark in accordance with section 6 of the Bill. Regarding the issue of sponsors' marks, provisions had been made in the Bill, in section 10(a)(ii), to transfer the approval of sponsors' marks from the assay master to the Company of Goldsmiths, the body under which the Assay Office operates. Since the Bill was published, it is now considered to be more preferable to delete this provision to ensure there are no possible governance issues and that the Assay Office and the assay master will maintain their independence from the Company of Goldsmiths in this matter. I will submit an amendment to this effect on Report Stage.