Section 6 — Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992: Application for certificate of independence.

Application for certificate of independence. 6 1 A trade union whose name is entered on the list of trade unions may apply to the Certification Officer for a certificate that it is independent. The application shall be made in such form and manner as the Certification Officer may require and shall be accompanied by the prescribed fee.

2 The Certification Officer shall maintain a record showing details of all applications made to him under this section and shall keep it available for public inspection (free of charge) at all reasonable hours.

3 If an application is made by a trade union whose name is not entered on the list of trade unions, the Certification Officer shall refuse a certificate of independence and shall enter that refusal on the record.

4 In any other case, he shall not come to a decision on the application before the end of the period of one month after it has been entered on the record; and before coming to his decision he shall make such enquiries as he thinks fit and shall take into account any relevant information submitted to him by any person.

5 He shall then decide whether the applicant trade union is independent and shall enter his decision and the date of his decision on the record.

6 If he decides that the trade union is independent he shall issue a certificate accordingly;

and if he decides that it is not, he shall give reasons for his decision.