18.—F39[(1) (a) Subject to paragraph (b), for the purposes of this Part "A" and "B" represent 2 persons of opposite sex so that, where A is a woman, B is a man, and vice versa.

(b) For the purposes of this Part (except sections 19 and 20), where the treatment of a woman on a ground related to her pregnancy or maternity leave is, by virtue of section 6(2A), in issue, "B" is either a man or a woman.]

(2) Subject to subsection (1), nothing in this Act affects the operation of the Interpretation Acts, 1937 to 1997, in so far as they provide that, unless the contrary intention appears—

(a) words importing the masculine gender shall be construed as importing also the feminine gender, and

(b) words importing the feminine gender shall be construed as also importing the masculine gender.