Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The issue was also raised in the other House. Subsection (4) applies where a correction plan is in operation, as required under section 6(1). If exceptional circumstances arise during the implementation of the correction plan, its implementation will be stopped when the circumstances change. That is straightforward. A new plan under section 6(1) would then be required. Subsection (5) deals with a potential future breach of the budgetary rule, hence the word "may". One cannot be as prescriptive about a potential problem.