Family Law (Protection of Spouses and Children) Act, 1981

Interpretation.

1.—(1) In this Act—

“applicant spouse” has the meaning assigned by section 2 of this Act;

“barring order” has the meaning assigned by section 2 of this Act;

“child” means any child of either the applicant spouse or the respondent spouse or of both of them or adopted by either or both of them under the Adoption Acts, 1952 to 1976, or in relation to whom either or both of them is or are in loco parentis, provided that he is under the age of eighteen years or, if over that age, is suffering from mental or physical disability;

“the Court” means the Circuit Court or the District Court;

“proceedings under this Act” means proceedings for the making, variation or discharge of a barring order, or for the making or discharge of a protection order, and any related proceedings by way of appeal or case stated;

“protection order” has the meaning assigned by section 3 of this Act;

“respondent spouse” has the meaning assigned by section 2 of this Act.

(2) For the purposes of any provision of this Act providing for the variation or discharge of a barring order or for the discharge of a protection order, an order made by a court on appeal from another court shall be treated as if it had been made by that other court.