17. (1) Where, before the date on which this section comes into operation, an application for a gaming permit was made to a superintendent of the Garda Síochána under section 9A(1) of the Act of 1956, then on or after that date—

(a) the inspector of the Garda Síochána referred to in section 9A(1) of the Act of 1956 shall, where required for the purposes of the application of section 9A(3) of that Act, be deemed to be the person to whom the application concerned referred to in that section was made, and

(b) the inspector of the Garda Síochána referred to in section 9A(1) of the Act of 1956 shall, where required for the purposes of the application of section 9A(4) of that Act, be deemed to be the person to whom the application for a gaming permit referred to in that section was made.

(2) Each register kept by a superintendent of the Garda Síochána under section 9A(16) of the Act of 1956 immediately before the date on which this section comes into operation shall, on and after that date, continue in being and shall form part of the register kept by the Chief Superintendent of the equivalent division under the said section 9A(16).

(3) If a hearing referred to in section 17(2) of the Act of 1956 is held on or after the date on which this section comes into operation and a notice in writing under section 16(1)(a) of that Act had been given to a Superintendent before that date, the Superintendent, in addition to the other persons referred to in the said section 17(2), may appear and may adduce evidence at the hearing in relation to the application referred to in that section.

(4) Where, before the date on which this section comes into operation, an application for a lottery permit was made to a superintendent of the Garda Síochána under section 27B(1) of the Act of 1956, then on or after that date—

(a) the inspector of the Garda Síochána referred to in section 27B(1) of the Act of 1956 shall, where required for the purposes of the application of section 27B(3) of that Act, be deemed to be the person to whom the application concerned referred to in that section was made,

(b) the inspector of the Garda Síochána referred to in section 27B(1) of the Act of 1956 shall, where required for the purposes of the application of section 27B(4) of that Act, be deemed to be the person to whom the application for a lottery permit referred to in that section was made, and

(c) the inspector of the Garda Síochána referred to in section 27B(1) of the Act of 1956 shall, where required for the purposes of the application of section 27B(5) of that Act, be deemed to be the person to whom the application for a lottery permit referred to in that section was made.

(5) Each register kept by a superintendent of the Garda Síochána under section 27B(15) of the Act of 1956 immediately before the date on which this section comes into operation shall, on and after that date, continue in being and shall form part of the register kept by the Chief Superintendent of the equivalent division under the said section 27B(15).

(6) If—

(a) before the date on which this section comes into operation, the superintendent of the Garda Síochána referred to in section 28(4) of the Act of 1956 has appeared and adduced evidence in a hearing referred to in that section, and

(b) the hearing is still ongoing on or after that date,

then, on or after that date, that superintendent may continue to adduce evidence and be heard at that hearing.

(7) In this section “Act of 1956” means the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956.