Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

If that is the case, what does the date provided for in this legislation mean? I am contradicting what the Minister has said because it is made clear in section 4 of the Bill that "this section comes into operation on 3 May 2012". That is next Thursday. Is the Minister telling me that section 4 will mean nothing when it comes into operation? If it will mean nothing next Thursday, surely it can be deleted from the Bill now. What it means is that new applicants whose youngest child is over 12 years of age will be affected from next Thursday.

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