(1) In this section "the Act of 1971" means the Trade Union Act, 1971.

(2) Section 2(1)(b) of the Act of 1971 (which refers to the minimum membership for the grant of a negotiation licence) is hereby amended, in relation to applications for a negotiation licence made after the passing of this Act, by the substitution for "500" of "1,000".

(3) In respect of a body of persons applying under section 9(1) of the Trade Union Act, 1941, for a negotiation licence after the passing of this Act, "the appropriate sum" referred to in section 2(1)(a) of the Act of 1971 shall be the sum appropriate to the number of members of the body in accordance with the Third Schedule to this Act or the sum deposited and kept deposited in the High Court before such passing in accordance with the said section 2(1)(a) and the Schedule to the Act of 1971, as the case may be.

(4) Whenever after the passing of this Act a trade union is formed consisting wholly or mainly of two or more trade unions which have been amalgamated and each of which, immediately before the amalgamation, had been the holder of a negotiation licence, "the appropriate sum" referred to in the said section 2(1)(a) shall be such sum as the Minister may determine in respect of the union so formed.