Section 126 of the Principal Act is amended by substituting the following for paragraph (b) (inserted by the Finance Act, 2001) of subsection (8):
"(b) Notwithstanding subsection (3) and the Finance Act, 1992 (Commencement of Section 15) (Unemployment Benefit and Pay-Related Benefit) Order 1994 (S.I. No. 19 of 1994), subsection (3) (b) shall not apply in relation to unemployment benefit paid or payable, in the period commencing on 6 April 1997 and ending on 31 December 2002, to a person employed in short-time employment.".