On receiving an application under this section the Minister shall cause the application to be transmitted to the Pharmacy Authority, who shall give notice of the application to every person (other than the applicant) who, in his opinion, may be materially affected by the decision, specifying a period within which the person may notify the Pharmacy Authority in writing of his objection to the granting of consent to the application.

On the expiration of the period specified in accordance with subsection (2) of this section, or such further period as the Pharmacy Authority may allow, the Pharmacy Authority shall give notice to the applicant, and to each person to whom he gave notice of the application, of the date when and the place where the application will be considered:

“Provided that, if no objection to the granting of consent is received by the Pharmacy Authority, or if, in the opinion of the Pharmacy Authority, every objection that is received is frivolous or vexatious or otherwise without substance, the Pharmacy Authority may consider and determine the application without complying with this subsection, and in the absence of the applicant and the persons to whom notice of the application was sent.”

For the purposes of this section, the term ‘person’ does not include a company, or any other body of persons (whether incorporated or unincorporated).”