Constitution (Consequential Provisions) Act, 1937

General adaptation of references to officials and authorities.

4.—(1) Every mention or reference in any statute or statutory instrument in force immediately prior to the date of the coming into operation of the Constitution and continued in force thereafter by section 1 of Article 50 of the Constitution (whether such reference is expressed in such statute or statutory instrument by virtue of original enactment or by virtue of subsequent amendment or modification or is implied therein by virtue of a general or a specific adaptation or interpretation) of or to any official person or body or any governmental authority, whether legislative, judicial, or executive, established by or under or functioning under or by virtue of the Constitution of Saorstát Eireann shall,—

(a) in relation to anything done or to be done or an event occurring before the coming into operation of the Constitution, be construed and have effect (unless the context otherwise requires) in like manner as it was construed and had effect immediately prior to the date of the coming into operation of the Constitution, and

(b) in relation to anything done or to be done or an event occurring after the coming into operation of the Constitution, be construed and have effect (unless the context otherwise requires) as a mention of or reference to the official person or body or the governmental authority (as the case may be) established by or under or functioning under or by virtue of the Constitution who or which corresponds to or has the like functions as such official person or body or governmental authority established by or under or functioning under or by virtue of the Constitution of Saorstát Eireann.

(2) If any question shall arise as to the official person or body or governmental authority established by or under or functioning under or by virtue of the Constitution who or which corresponds for the purpose of this section to a particular official person or body or a particular governmental authority established by or under or functioning under or by virtue of the Constitution of Saorstát Eireann, such question shall be determined by the Taoiseach whose decision thereon shall be final.

(3) The general adaptations made by this section shall be subject and without prejudice to all specific adaptations made by or under any other section of this Act, and in the event of any inconsistency between such general adaptations and any such specific adaptation, such specific adaptation shall prevail.