Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Obviously the decision of the Supreme Court was taken on 30 May 2017. The court made its declaration then and gave the State six months to get its act together. The response came on 30 November. From what the Minister has said in his speech, it appears that the court was not receptive to the idea of waiting until the legislation was in place, and ruled that on 9 February 2018 the law will be struck down. What will applicants be able to do on 10 February that they cannot do now? Will they be able to look for work? How is the change going to manifest itself on 10 February, the day after the declaration of unconstitutionality becomes operative?