Section 6 of the Principal Act is amended -

(a) by inserting the following subsection after subsection (1):

"(1A) The reference in subsection (1) to a period of 18 working weeks shall be construed -

(a) in the period from 1 September 2019 to 31 August 2020, as a reference to a period of 22 working weeks, and

(b) on and from 1 September 2020, as a reference to a period of 26 working weeks.",

(b) in subsection (2)(a) by substituting "attains the age of 12 years" for "attains the age of 8 years",

(c) in subsection (2)(b)(ii) by substituting "attained the age of 10 years but not 12 years" for "attained the age of 6 years but not 8 years", and

(d) by inserting the following subsection after subsection (8):

"(8A) Where, before the specified day, a person who is a relevant parent in respect of a child has not taken 18 weeks parental leave in respect of the child (and irrespective of whether the person was prevented from taking all or any of the parental leave by the operation of subsection (2) as in force before the specified day) then on and from the specified day this Act, as amended by the specified Act, shall apply to so much of the 18 weeks of parental leave as was not taken before the specified day in respect of that child.".