9 Further provisions for the purposes of regulations 5 to 8
For the purposes of regulations 5 to 8—
(a) convictions which are spent for the purposes of the Rehabilitation of Offenders (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 shall be disregarded; and
S.I. 1978/1908 (N.I. 27)
(b) the Department may also disregard an offence if such time as it thinks appropriate has elapsed since the date of the conviction.