Interpretation Act, 1923

Certain general rules for the construction of Acts.

7.—(1) In this Act and in every Act passed after the commencement of this Act all expressions relating to time, and every reference to a point of time shall, unless the contrary intention appears, be construed as relating or referring to Greenwich mean time, but subject to the provisions of any enactment for the time being in force providing for the time in Saorstát Eireann being in advance of Greenwich mean time during any specified period.

(2) In the measurement of any distance for the purposes of any Act passed after the commencement of this Act, that distance shall, unless the contrary intention appears, be measured in a straight line on a horizontal plane.

(3) In this Act and in every Act passed after the commencement of this Act, expressions referring to writing shall, unless the contrary intention appears, be construed as including references to printing, typewriting, lithography, photography, and other modes of representing or reproducing words in a visible form.

(4) Where an Act passed after the commencement of this Act authorises or requires any document to be served by post, whether the expression “serve,” or the expression “give,” “deliver” or “send,” or any other expression is used, then, unless the contrary intention appears, the service shall be deemed to be effected by properly addressing, prepaying, and posting a letter containing the document, and, unless the contrary is proved, such service shall be deemed to have been effected at the time at which the letter would be delivered in the ordinary course of post.

(5) In any Act passed after the commencement of this Act a description of or citation from any other Act, instrument or document shall, unless the contrary intention appears, be construed as including the word, section, or other part mentioned or referred to as forming the beginning or as forming the end of the portion comprised in the description or citation.