Tony Kett (Fianna Fail)

This amendment is catered for in section 18(4) which states, "The period referred to in subsection (3) may be extended by the appeals officer concerned (at the request in writing of a person referred to in subsection (1) or (2)) for a further period not exceeding 12 weeks...". That brings the period to three months in certain circumstances, which caters for what this amendment seeks. There must be a cut-off point at some stage as to when people are at liberty to appeal, unless there are extreme circumstances, which I cannot imagine. The period of six weeks to lodge an appeal seems reasonable. I accept Senator Terry's point that certain circumstances could arise where this would not be adequate, but the three months provided in subsection (4) would cater for that.