Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

I move amendment No. 6:

In page 4, before section 3, to insert the following new section:

3.—(1) Section 24 of the Principal Act is amended—

(a) in subsection (1) by substituting "520 contribution weeks" for "260 contribution weeks", and

(b) by inserting the following subsections after subsection (1):

"(1A) In the case of a person who becomes a voluntary contributor paying contributions under this Chapter before 6 April 2013, subsection (1) shall be read as if '260 contribution weeks' were substituted for '520 contribution weeks'.

(1B) In the case of a person who becomes a voluntary contributor paying contributions under this Chapter on or after 6 April 2013 but before 6 April 2014, subsection (1) shall be read as if '364 contribution weeks' were substituted for '520 contribution weeks'.

(1C) In the case of a person who becomes a voluntary contributor paying contributions under this Chapter on or after 6 April 2014 but before 6 April 2015, subsection (1) shall be read as if '468 contribution weeks' were substituted for '520 contribution weeks'.".

(2) This section comes into operation on 6 April 2013.".

This relates to a small number of people and the purpose of the amendment is to phase in the changes in the number of contributions over a number of years.

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