16 [360] person providing the service belongs and, in every case, shall take into account the following: (a) the number of users relying on the service provided by the person; (b) the extent to which other sectors set out in Schedule 1 depend on the service provided by the person; (c) the impact that an incident could have in terms of degree and duration on economic or societal activities or public safety; (d) the market share of the service provided by the person; (e) the geographic spread with regard to the area that may be affected by an incident; (f) the importance of the person in the maintenance of a sufficient level of the service in the State taking into account the availability of alternative means for the provision of the service concerned. (6) A person may be designated under paragraph (1) in respect of one or more category of sector, subsector or essential service. Procedure for designation as operator of essential services 13. (1) In considering whether a person may be required to be designated as an operator of essential services, a competent authority may request information from the person which the competent authority reasonably believes it requires for the purpose of deciding whether to designate that person as an operator of essential services. (2) Where a competent authority proposes to designate a person as an operator of essential services, the competent authority shall notify the person in writing accordingly— (a) stating the reasons why the person is proposed to be designated, (b) specifying the category of sector and, where appropriate, subsector and the essential service in respect of which the person is to be so designated, and (c) giving the person an opportunity to make representations in writing to the competent authority in respect of the proposed designation within 15 working days of the date of the notification. (3) The competent authority shall consider any representations made by a person under paragraph (2) and shall, within 20 working days of the earlier of— (a) the receipt of the representations, or (b) the expiration of the period referred to in paragraph (2)(c),