Michael McCarthy (Labour)

I move amendment No. 9:

In page 4, between lines 36 and 37, to insert the following:

"(2) The Minister shall, on application by a person entitled to a certificate under subsection (1), issue such a certificate as soon as practicable after such an application.".

On Committee Stage, the Minister did not like the phrase "as soon as practicable". The term "as soon as may be" provides more discretion. There is a strange omission from the section. While an individual is required to produce a certificate by the Minister under subsection (1), there is no obligation on the Minister to issue a certificate to a person entitled to it. It is entirely appropriate, fair and balanced to accept amendment No. 9 to evenly distribute responsibility in terms of issuing certificates.