(1) Section 44 (amended by section 4 of the Act of 2006) of the Principal Act is amended -

(a) in subsection (1), by substituting the following paragraph for paragraph (b):

"(b) before that day was entitled, in respect of any period of interruption of employment (whether including that day or not), to illness benefit for 312 days,",

(b) in subsection (1A) (inserted by section 15(2) of the Act of 2008), by substituting the following paragraph for paragraph (b):

"(b) before that day was entitled, in respect of any period of interruption of employment (whether including that day or not) during the period beginning on 5 January 2009, to illness benefit for 624 days,", and

(c) by inserting the following subsection after subsection (2):

"(2A) Notwithstanding subsection (1)  -