6. (1) This Act is without prejudice to—

(a) the power of the Minister to give a direction that a person be released from prison for a temporary period under section 2 of the Act of 1960,

F3[(aa) the power of the Minister to give a direction that a person be released from prison for a period under section 2A of the Act of 1960,]

(b) the power to commute or remit a punishment under section 23 of the Criminal Justice Act 1951, or

(c) rules or practice whereby prisoners generally may earn remission of sentences by industry or good conduct,

or anything done under those sections or rules, or in accordance with that practice, as the case may be, whether prior to or after the commencement of this section.

(2) This Act shall not apply to qualifying prisoners within the meaning of the Criminal Justice (Release of Prisoners) Act 1998.