1.—(1) In this Act, save where the context otherwise requires—

“the Act of 1979” means the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1979;

“assurance company” has the meaning assigned to it by the Insurance Acts, 1909 to 1985;

“bank” means the holder of a licence under section 9 of the Central Bank Act, 1971, or a trustee savings bank certified under the Trustee Savings Banks Acts, 1863 to 1979;

“company” means a company within the meaning of section 2 of the Companies Act, 1963, or a company incorporated outside the State;

“credit union” means a society which is registered as a credit union under the Industrial and Provident Societies Acts, 1893 to 1978, by virtue of the Credit Union Act, 1966;

“house” has the meaning assigned to it by the Act of 1979;

“mortgage” means any instrument of mortgage or charge given as security for a loan and cognate words shall be construed accordingly;

“the Principal Act” means the Housing Act, 1966.

(2) In this Act, reference to a section is to a section of this Act and reference to a subsection, paragraph or subparagraph is to the subsection, paragraph or subparagraph of the provision in which the reference occurs, unless it is indicated that reference to some other enactment or provision, as may be appropriate, is intended.

(3) References in the Housing Acts, 1966 to 1979, to a grant, loan, subsidy or contribution under those Acts shall be construed as including references, respectively, to a grant, loan, subsidy or contribution under this Act.

(4) A reference in this Act to any enactment shall be construed as a reference to that enactment as amended or adapted by or under any subsequent enactment.