21.—(1) An application to the Authority for a licence to provide a security service shall be in the prescribed form and be accompanied by—

(a) the prescribed fee, and

(b) such references as to the applicant's character and competence as the Authority may require,

and shall contain such other information as may be required by the Authority.

(2) The Authority may require that the applicant's signature be witnessed by a person from within a prescribed category of persons.

(3) Without prejudice to sections 24 and 36, the Authority may—

(a) require an applicant to furnish such additional information in respect of the applicant's character, financial position and competence, and make such investigations and conduct such examinations in that regard, as it considers necessary,

F13[(ab) require the applicant to furnish particulars of every person who, in a case in which the applicant is a company, is the beneficial owner of more than 5 per cent of the share capital of the company, ]

(b) require verification by affidavit or otherwise of any information provided by the applicant, and

(c) require the applicant to supply a certificate by a member of the Garda Síochána not below the rank of superintendent in such form and containing such particulars in relation to the applicant as the Authority may prescribe.

(4) In this section references to the applicant's character, financial position and competence include references to the character, financial position and competence of—

(a) in the case of a body corporate, F14[the shareholders to whom subsection (3)(ab) refers and the directors, and]

(b) in the case of a partnership, the partners,

and, in either case, any manager, secretary or other officer of the entity concerned.