"licensing function" means a function of a local regulatory authority under
this Act relating to a licence, including the function of determining whether
to issue, transfer, amend, suspend or revoke a licence.
"local regulatory authority" means a regulatory authority other than the EPA.
(2) The Minister may, if the Minister considers that it is expedient in the
public interest to do so, direct a local regulatory authority in writing to
refer to the EPA a specified licensing function in respect of a particular
matter that the Minister considers is of State or regional significance.
(4) The local regulatory authority must, as soon as
practicable after receiving a direction under this section--
(a) refer to the
EPA any application, report or other document or information in the possession
of the authority that relates to the matter (including any document or
information specified by the Minister in the direction), and
(b) notify the
applicant or licensee concerned in the matter of the Minister's direction.
(5) Whenever the Minister gives a direction under this section, the
local regulatory authority ceases to have the licensing function in respect of
the matter, unless the Minister refers the licensing function (or any aspect
of that function) back to the authority.
(6) The EPA may, after the Minister
has given a direction under this section, exercise in the place of the
local regulatory authority the licensing function in respect of the matter.
(7) For the purpose of the EPA exercising a licensing function in respect of a
matter--
(a) a reference to the local regulatory authority in any document is
taken to be a reference to the EPA, and
(b) anything done by the
local regulatory authority in the matter before the direction was given may be
adopted by the EPA.