8.—(1) A person may apply to the Department for the review of a decision by the Department to reject an application under paragraph 7(1)(a) in accordance with this paragraph.
(2) An application for review shall be made to the Department no later than 3 months from the date of notification of the decision to be reviewed.
(3) An application for review shall be in writing and shall specify—
(a)the name and address of the applicant and, if that person is not the person notified of the decision by the Department, the interest of that person in the decision in respect of which the application is made;
(b)the decision of the Department in respect of which the application for review is made and its date;
(c)full particulars of the grounds upon which the review of the decision is sought; and
(d)the change sought to the decision.
(4) Where an application for review is made under this paragraph, the Department shall review the decision which is specified in it.
(5) In reviewing a decision the Department may—
(a)consider any document or other evidence produced by the applicant (whether or not that document or evidence was available at the time of the decision);
(b)invite the applicant to provide such further information relevant to the review as it considers appropriate; and
(c)give the applicant an opportunity to give evidence and to make representations in person or through a representative.
(6) Following a review of the decision the Department may—
(a)confirm the decision;
(b)amend or alter the decision in any respect which it considers appropriate; or
(c)revoke the decision in its entirety and substitute a new decision.
(7) As soon as reasonably practicable after reviewing the decision, the Department shall notify the applicant in writing of its decision under sub-paragraph (6) and the reasons for it.