Dick, of course it is true that any act of parliament can be overturned by another, but in practice it does not happen, certainly not within a couple of years.

When the bill was being passed Britain had no intention of becoming involved in any war between Germany and France, so it was assumed by all involved that it would come into force at once.

The people of Ireland were content to get the war out of the way first and then have the peaceful transition of power that everyone except believers in blood sacrifice wanted.