Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

Amendment No. 71 gives the authority discretion to hold a hearing or part of hearing in public if it receives a request from a licensee or complainant. A request for a public hearing must be in writing and must state the reasons for the request. This amendment responds to a suggestion made on Second Stage by Senator O'Toole. Amendment No. 72 is a consequential amendment to ensure consistency between the provisions concerning oral hearings conducted by the authority and the appeal board.

Amendment agreed to.

Schedule 3, as amended, agreed to.

Schedule 4 agreed to.

SCHEDULE 5.