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

“the Act of 1964” means the Health (Homes for Incapacitated Persons) Act, 1964;

“dependent person” means a person who requires assistance with the activities of daily living such as dressing, eating, walking, washing and bathing by reason of—

(a) physical infirmity or a physical injury, defect or disease, or

(b) mental infirmity,

and “dependency” shall be construed accordingly;

“the Minister” means the Minister for Health;

“prescribed” means prescribed by regulations made by the Minister;

F2[“register“ means a register of nursing homes that is established or deemed to have been established by the Health Service Executive under section 4, and cognate words shall be construed accordingly;]

“registered proprietor”, in relation to a registered nursing home, means the person whose name is entered in the register concerned as the person carrying on the home;

“the regulations” means the regulations under section 6, and the regulations referred to in subsection (6) of that section, for the time being in force.

(2) In this Act—

(a) a reference to any enactment shall, unless the context otherwise requires, be construed as a reference to that enactment as amended or extended by or under any subsequent enactment including this Act,

(b) 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,

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