1.—(1) In this Act, except when the context otherwise requires—

“the Act of 1967” means the Criminal Procedure Act, 1967;

F1["authorised person" means a person who is appointed in writing by the Minister, or a person who is one of a prescribed class of persons, to be an authorised person for the purposes of sections 6B and 6C;]

“court” means any court exercising criminal jurisdiction but does not include court martial;

“criminal record”, in relation to a person, means a record of the previous convictions of the person for offences (if any);

F1["Minister" means Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform;]

F1["prescribed" means prescribed by regulations made by the Minister;]

“serious offence” means an offence specified in the Schedule for which a person of full capacity and not previously convicted may be punished by a term of imprisonment for a term of 5 years or by a more severe penalty.

(2) In this Act—

(a) a reference to a section is a reference to a section of this Act, unless it is indicated that reference to some other enactment is intended,

(b) a reference to a subsection, paragraph or subparagraph is a reference to a subsection, paragraph or subparagraph of the provision in which the reference occurs unless it is indicated that reference to some other provision is intended,

(c) a reference to any enactment shall be construed as a reference to that enactment as amended, adapted or extended by or under any subsequent enactment.