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Interpretation.
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1.—(1) In this Act—
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“the Minister” means the Minister for Defence;
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“the Prisoners of War Convention” means the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War which was signed on behalf of Ireland at Geneva on the 19th day of December, 1949;
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“the Civilians Convention” means the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War which was signed on behalf of Ireland at Geneva on the 19th day of December, 1949.
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(2) Any reference in this Act to prisoners of war is, primarily, to—
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(a) persons who, in relation to the State and a war in which the State is a participant, are prisoners of war within the meaning of Paragraph A of Article 4 of the Prisoners of War Convention, and
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(b) persons who, in relation to the State and a war in which the State is not a participant, are, by reference to subparagraph (2) of Paragraph B of Article 4 of the Prisoners of War Convention, to be treated as prisoners of war under that convention,
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but any such reference shall also be construed as including a reference to the persons who, in relation to the State and a war in which the State is a participant, having committed a belligerent act, are, pursuant to Article 5 of the Prisoners of War Convention, to enjoy the protection of that Convention until such time as their status has been determined by a competent tribunal.
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(3) Any reference in this Act to enemy aliens is to persons who, in relation to the State and a war in which the State is a participant, are protected persons within the meaning of Article 4 of the Civilians Convention, including persons who, in relation to the State and a war in which the State is a participant, are—
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(a) the persons voluntarily demanding internment referred to in Article 42 of the Civilians Convention, and
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(b) the children left at liberty without parental care referred to in Article 82 of the Civilians Convention.
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