309.—(1) In this section—

the expression “the Act of 1947” means the Defence Forces (Temporary Provisions) Act, 1947 (No. 4 of 1947);

the expression “enactment to which this section applies” means any enactment being—

(a) any Saorstát Éireann statute or any instrument made thereunder, or

(b) any Act of the Oireachtas passed before the operative date or any instrument made thereunder, or

(c) any scheme made (whether before or after the passing of this Act) under the Defence Forces (Pensions) Act, 1932 (No. 26 of 1932).

(2) In any enactment to which this section applies—

(a) references to the Defence Forces shall be construed as references to the Defence Forces to be raised and maintained under this Act,

(b) references to the forces established under Part I of the Act of 1923 shall be construed as references to the Permanent Defence Force,

(c) references to the reserve force established under Part III of the Act of 1923 shall be construed as references to the Reserve Defence Force,

(d) references to a commissioned military rank set out in the Table to section 3 of the Act of 1947 shall be construed as references to the similar commissioned army rank set out in column (2) of the Second Schedule to this Act or to the commissioned naval rank set out in column (3) of the said Second Schedule which corresponds to such commissioned army rank,

(e) references to a non-commissioned military rank set out in the Table to section 5 of the Act of 1947 at any reference number shall be construed as references to the similar non-commissioned army rank set out in column (2) of the Third Schedule to this Act or to the non-commissioned naval rank set out in column (3) of the said Third Schedule which corresponds to such non-commissioned army rank,

(f) references to the former commissioned rank of major shall be construed as references to the commissioned rank of lieutenant-colonel.

(3) The general adaptations made by this section shall be without prejudice to all specific adaptations made by any other section of this Act, and in the event of any inconsistency between such general adaptations and any such specific adaptation such specific adaptation shall prevail.