(1) Section 117 of the Principal Act is amended -

(a) in subsection (1) -

(i) by substituting "0.5 per cent" for "1 per cent", and

(ii) by substituting "the amount so calculated shall, if less than €1, be rounded up to €1 and, if more than €1, be rounded down to the nearest €" for "the amount so calculated shall be rounded down to the nearest €",

and

(b) in subsection (2) by deleting paragraph (a).

(2)

(a) Paragraph (a) (i) of subsection (1) applies as respects transactions effected on or after 2 December 2004, and

(b) Paragraphs (a) (ii) and (b) of subsection (1) apply as respects transactions effected on or after 3 February 2005.