12.—For the purposes of the Principal Act and notwithstanding anything in that Act—

(a) in relation to Dáil Éireann and its members and Clerk, the registration date immediately following 31 January 2001 shall be 31 December 2001, and each subsequent registration date shall be the date of each anniversary of the latter date or, if on any such date (“the specified date”) Dáil Éireann stands dissolved, the date that is 30 days after the date of the first meeting of Dáil Éireann after the specified date, and

(b) in relation to Seanad Éireann and its members and Clerk, the registration date immediately following 31 January 2001 shall be 31 December 2001, and each subsequent registration date shall be the date of each anniversary of the latter date or, if on any such date Dáil Éireann stands dissolved, the date that is 30 days after the date of the first meeting of Seanad Éireann after the first general election for members of Seanad Éireann after that dissolution.