Ivana Bacik (Independent)

I was proposing an alternative to the criminal penalty proposed in amendment No. 27. It may give more teeth to the compliance with the code of practice provision.

Section 35(4) states various extreme conditions, such as declaration of bankruptcy and an insufficient level of professional indemnity insurance which would allow the authority to refuse a licence renewal while section 35(6) deals with improper conduct. Could more discretion be given to the authority to allow it to refuse licence renewals in the area of compliance with a code of conduct? It would also be left to the authority to determine adequate compliance.