Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)

The issue raised is slightly different from that raised in the amendments. The licence belongs to the Minister, as the legislation states; it is issued to an operator and cannot be sold or transferred. It can happen that the business to which it is attached will be sold or transferred. Legally, however, the licence remains the property of the Minister.

The amendment is not necessary. Currently, the Bill states an operator's licence is the property of the Minister and where an operator's licence is withdrawn or suspended, the operator shall, on request in writing from the Minister, return it to the Minister. The Senator proposes to include the words, "an operator's licence is the property of the Minister." and in a separate sentence, "Where an operator's licence is withdrawn or suspended, the operator shall, upon request in writing, return the licence to the Minister." I do not see the amendment as being necessary.