S.I. No. 230 of 2001

SOCIAL WELFARE ACT, 2001 (SECTION 12) (COMMENCEMENT) ORDER, 2001

The Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by section 12 of the Social Welfare Act, 2001 (No. 5 of 2001) , hereby orders as follows:

Citation.

1. This Order may be cited as the Social Welfare Act, 2001 (Section 12)(Commencement) Order, 2001.

Commencement.

2.(1) The 8th day of February 2001, is hereby appointed as the day on which -

(a) section 12(1)(a),

(b) section 12(1)(b)(ii), and

(c) section 12(1)(c) (in so far as it amends section 41G(4)(b)(ii) of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1993 )

of the Social Welfare Act, 2001 , comes into operation.

(2) The 8th day of March 2001, is hereby appointed as the day on which -

(a) section 12(1)(b)(i), and

(b) section 12(1)(c) (in so far as it amends section 41G(4)(b)(i) of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1993 )

of the Social Welfare Act, 2001 comes into operation.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation.)

Section 12 of the Social Welfare Act, 2001 , provides for the extended duration of Maternity Benefit from 14 to 18 weeks and the extension from 10 to 14 weeks for Adoptive Benefit in the case of persons in insurable self-employment. This commencement order provides that these improvements apply with effect from the 8th day of March 2001.

Section 12 also provides for the extended duration to apply in the case of a father entitled to Maternity Benefit following the death of the mother, or to Adoptive Benefit following the death of the adoptive mother. For such persons the extension of entitlement takes effect from 8th of February 2001.

These dates mirror the provisions which apply in respect of employed persons.