(1) A certificate of fitness shall remain in force until the expiration of 3 years after the date on which the certificate was issued.

(2) If, before the expiration of a certificate of fitness, the individual to whom it was issued makes an application for a new certificate of fitness, the first-mentioned certificate of fitness shall remain in force -

(a) until the issue of the new certificate of fitness,

(b) in circumstances where the application is refused by the Superintendent of the Garda Síochána concerned or by the Minister and the individual does not make a request referred to in section 109E(1), until the expiration of the period within which the request may be made,

(c) in circumstances where the application is refused by the Superintendent of the Garda Síochána concerned or by the Minister and the individual makes a request referred to in section 109E(1) but does not bring an appeal under that section, until the expiration of the period specified in subsection (3) of that section, or

(d) in circumstances where the application is refused by the Superintendent of the Garda Síochána concerned or the Minister and the individual appeals the refusal in accordance with section 109E, until -