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

“animal” means an animal of the kingdom animalia other than a human being;

“animal remedy” has the meaning given to it by section 1 of the Animal Remedies Act 1993;

“appointed day” has the meaning given to it by section 98(1);

“approved” in relation to a programme of education or further education has the meaning given to it by section 61;

“authorised officer” means an officer appointed under section 124;

“Board” means the board that may be established under section 98;

“certificate of registration” has the meaning given to it by section 35;

“committee” means a committee established by this Act;

“Council” means the Veterinary Council of Ireland established under section 11;

“Education Committee” means the committee referred to in section 62(1);

“establishment day” means the day appointed by the Minister under section 3;

“emergency”, in relation to treatment of an animal, means treatment where the animal is suffering from a condition that requires immediate action or where the failure to act would result in unnecessary suffering to the animal and includes, in appropriate circumstances, the putting down of the animal;

“Fitness to Practise Committee” means the committee referred to in section 71;

“former Council” has the meaning given to it by section 5;

“former Register” has the meaning given to it by section 36(1);

“functions” includes powers and duties, and references to the performance of functions include, as respects powers and duties, references to the exercise of the powers and the carrying out of the duties;

F1["limited registration" in relation to—

(a) a veterinary practitioner, means registration under section 44, and

(b) a veterinary nurse, means registration under section 96B;]

“local authority” has the same meaning as it has in the Local Government Act 2001;

F2["Minister" means Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine;]

“practice of veterinary medicine” has the meaning given to it by section 53;

“Preliminary Investigation Committee” means the committee referred to in section 70;

“prescribed” means prescribed by regulations made by the Minister or the Council, as the case may be;

“printed and published”, in relation to a document made available to the public, means making it available to the public at such reasonable price (if any) as the Council may determine and includes publication of it by electronic means including by means of the internet;

“professional misconduct” has the meaning given to it by section 76(10);

“programme of education” has the meaning given to it by section 61;

“programme of further education” has the meaning given to it by section 61;

“Register” means the register referred to in section 34;

“Register of Veterinary Nurses” means the register referred to in section 93;

“registered person” means—

(a) except in Part 7, a person registered under Part 4 or 8, and

(b) in Part 7, a person registered within the meaning given to it in section 69;

“Registrar” means the person appointed under section 23;

“veterinary nurse” means a person registered under Part 8;

“veterinary practitioner” means a person registered under Part 4;

“veterinary premises” has the meaning given to it by section 105.

(2) In this Act, except where the context otherwise requires, a reference to service of documents or to notifying in writing, however expressed in either case, shall be construed in accordance with section 134.

(3) In this Act—

(a) a reference to a section or Schedule is a reference to a section of, or a Schedule to, this Act unless it is indicated that reference to some other enactment is intended, and

(b) 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.

(4) In this Act, a reference to any other enactment is to be construed as a reference to that enactment as amended, extended or adapted by or under any subsequent enactment.