1.—(1) In this Act—

“the Act of 1978” means the Road Transport Act, 1978;

“carrier's licence” means either a national road freight carrier's licence or an international road freight carrier's licence;

“existing merchandise licence” means a merchandise licence which was in force at any time in the period of two years ending on the day on which section 3 of this Act comes into operation and which has not expired or been revoked;

“existing restricted road freight licence” means a restricted road freight licence which is in force on the day on which section 3 of this Act comes into operation;

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“the Minister” means the Minister for Communications;

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“the Principal Act” means the Road Transport Act, 1933;

“transport officer” means a transport officer appointed under section 15 of this Act.

(2) For the purposes of the Principal Act, as amended by this Act, a national road freight carrier's licence and an international road freight carrier's licence shall each be deemed to be a merchandise licence under that Act.