European Parliament Elections Act, 1997

Interpretation.

2.—(1) In this Act—

“the Act of 1992” means the Electoral Act, 1992;

“competent administrative authority” in relation to a Member State means the competent administrative authority designated by that Member State for the purposes of Articles 7, 10 and 13 of the Directive;

“county” means an administrative county;

“Dáil” means Dáil Éireann;

“the Directive” means the Council Directive of 6 December, 1993 (No. 93/109/EC, O.J. No. L329/34 of 30 December, 1993);

“election” means an election of representatives to the European Parliament;

“the European Communities” has the same meaning as in the European Communities Acts, 1972 to 1995;

“European election” has the meaning assigned to it by section 7 ;

“European elector” means a person who is entitled to vote at a European election;

“excluded day” has the meaning given to it by rule 150 of the Second Schedule ;

“home Member State” in relation to any person means the Member State of which the person is a national;

“local returning officer” means a person who pursuant to section 17 (1) is a local returning officer for the purpose of this Act and includes a deputy or acting local returning officer pursuant to that section;

“Member State” means a Member State of the European Communities;

“the Minister” means the Minister for the Environment;

“non-party candidate” means a candidate who is not the candidate of a registered political party;

“the Parliament” means the Parliament of the European Communities;

“petition” means a petition presented to the High Court under this Act;

“the polling day”, except where the context otherwise requires, has the meaning assigned to it by section 10 (1);

“the postal voters list” means the list prepared pursuant to section 14 of the Act of 1992 so far as it relates to European electors;

“registered political party” means a party which pursuant to section 25 of the Act of 1992 is for the time being registered in the Register of Political Parties as a party organised to contest a European election;

“replacement candidate” means a replacement candidate for the purposes of this Act;

“replacement candidates list” has the meaning assigned to it by rule 17 of the Second Schedule ;

“returning officer” means a person who is appointed by the Minister under section 16 (1) to be a returning officer for the purposes of this Act;

“Seanad” means Seanad Éireann;

“the special voters list” means the list prepared pursuant to section 17 of the Act of 1992 so far as it relates to European electors;

“the treaties” means the treaties governing the European Communities (within the meaning of section 1 (as amended, whether before or after the passing of this Act) of the European Communities Act, 1972);

(2) In this Act—

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

(b) a reference to a subsection, paragraph, subparagraph or rule is to a subsection, paragraph, subparagraph or rule of the provision (including a Schedule) in which the reference occurs, unless it is indicated that reference to some other provision is intended;

(c) a reference to any enactment shall be construed as a reference to that enactment as amended, adapted or extended by or under any subsequent enactment including this Act.