Decommissioning Act, 1997

Interpretation.

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

“act” includes omission and a reference to the doing of an act includes a reference to the making of an omission;

“the agreement” means the agreement between the Government and the Government of the United Kingdom establishing the Commission;

“arms” means a firearm within the meaning of the Firearms Acts, 1925 to 1990, and includes ammunition within the meaning of the Firearms Act, 1925 , an explosive within the meaning of the Explosives Act, 1875, and any other substance or thing that is an explosive substance within the meaning of the Explosive Substances Act, 1883;

“arrangements” means arrangements made by the Commission pursuant to regulations;

“the Commission” means the commission established by the agreement;

“the corresponding law” means the law of the United Kingdom corresponding to this Act;

“decommissioning”, in relation to arms, means—

(a) destroying the arms, or

(b) transferring to, or doing an act leading to the collection and destruction of the arms by or on behalf of, the Commission or a person designated by the Minister or, if appropriate, the Secretary of State, in or outside the State, and cognate words shall be construed accordingly;

“destruction” includes making permanently inaccessible or unusable and cognate words shall be construed accordingly;

“enactment” includes an instrument made under a power conferred by statute;

“functions” includes powers and duties;

“the Minister” means the Minister for Justice;

“regulations” means regulations made by the Minister under this Act;

“Secretary of State” means a Secretary of State in the Government of the United Kingdom.

(2) In this Act—

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

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

(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.