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 of the Provisional Government, and, to the extent to which functions of any department of the British Government become functions of the Government of the Irish Free State/Saorstat Eireann, as the successors of such department of the British Government.

After the date on which this Constitution comes into operation the House of the Parliament elected in pursuance of the Irish Free State (Agreement) Act, 1922 (being the constituent assembly for the settlement of this Constitution), may, for a period not exceeding one year from that date, but subject to compliance by the Members thereof with the provisions of Article 17 of this Constitution, exercise all the powers and authorities conferred on the Chamber/Dail Eireann by this Constitution, and the first election for the Chamber/Dail Eireann under Articles 26 and 27 hereof shall take place as soon as possible after the expiration of such period.

The first Senate/Seanad Eireann shall be constituted immediately after the coming into operation of this Constitution in the manner following, that is to say:—

(a) The first Senate/Seanad shall consist of two members elected by each of the Universities in the Irish Free State/Saorstat Eireann and fifty-six other members, of whom twenty-eight shall be elected and twenty-eight shall be nominated.