Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954

46 Miscellaneous definitions. N.I.

(1) In an enactment the expression—

• “commencement” when used with reference to any statutory provision shall mean the time at which that provision comes into operation;

• “contravention” shall include in relation to any statutory provision, a failure to comply with that provision;

• “Land Clauses Acts” shall mean the Lands Clauses Consolidation Act, 1845 [1845 c.18] , the Lands Clauses Consolidation Acts Amendment Act, 1860 [1860 c.106] , the Railways Act (Ireland), 1851 [1851 c.70] , the Railways Act (Ireland), 1860 [1860 c.97] , the Railways Act (Ireland), 1864 [1864 c.71] , …F1 , the Acquisition of Land (Assessment of Compensation) Act, 1919 [1919 c.57] , section two of the Repeal of Unnecessary Laws Act (Northern Ireland), 1953 [1953 c.5] , and every statutory provision for the time being in force amending those provisions or any of them;

• “ordnance map” shall mean a map made under the powers conferred by the Survey (Ireland) Acts, 1825 to 1870;

• “owner” in relation to any land shall include any person who under the Lands Clauses Acts would have power to sell and convey that land to the promoters of an undertaking;(12 & 13 Geo.5)(13 Geo.5)

• “Republic of Ireland” shall mean the territory which, in accordance with the provisions of the Irish Free State (Agreement) Act, 1922 [1922 c.4] , and the Irish Free State Constitution Act, 1922 [1922 c.1] (Session 2), was required to be styled and known as the Irish Free State;

• “signature” and “signed” shall include and apply to the making of a mark;

• “Valuation Acts” shall mean the[F2 statutory] provisions relating to the valuation of rateable property in Northern Ireland;

• “will” shall include codicil;

• “writing”, “written” or any term of like import shall include words typewritten, printed, painted, engraved, lithographed, photographed or represented or reproduced by any mode of representing or reproducing words in a visible form.

(2) In an enactment passed or made after the commencement of this Act the expression—

• “access” shall include ingress, egress and regress;

• “act” where used in reference to an offence or civil wrong shall include a series of acts, and words so used which refer to acts done shall extend to omissions;

• [F3 “arbitrator” has the same meaning as in Part I of the Arbitration Act 1996;]

• “assets” shall include property or rights of any kind;

• “barrister-at-law” shall mean any person admitted or entitled to practise as a member of the Bar of Northern Ireland;

• [F4 “civil partnership” means a civil partnership which exists under the Civil Partnership Act 2004 (and any reference to a civil partner shall be construed accordingly);]

• “constitutional laws of Northern Ireland” shall meanF5 . . . the statutory provisionsF5 . . . relating to or affecting the legislative powers of[F2 the Assembly];

• “costs”F6 shall include fees, charges, disbursements, expenses or remuneration;

• “fault” shall mean wrongful act or default;

• “functions” shall include jurisdictions, powers and duties;

• “goods” shall mean all kinds of movable property including animals;

• “individual” shall mean a natural person and shall not include a corporation;

• “movable property” shall mean property of every description (including growing crops) except immovable property;

• “registry of deeds” shall mean the registry maintained in Northern Ireland under the Registration of Deeds Acts;

• [F7 “Registration of Deeds Acts” shall mean the Registration of Deeds Act (Northern Ireland) 1970 [1970 c.25] and every statutory provision for the time being in force amending that Act or otherwise relating to the registry of deeds, or to the registration of deeds, orders or other instruments or documents in such registry;]

• “statute of limitation” shall mean any statutory provision in force in Northern Ireland prescribing a period within which any civil proceeding to which such provision relates is required to be brought, but shall not include a provision prescribing a period within which any criminal proceedings (including proceedings to recover any penalty imposed as a punishment for a criminal offence) is to be brought.

[F2 (3) In any enactment passed or made after the day appointed for the commencement of Parts II and III of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, the following expressions shall have the same meaning as in that Act—

• “The Belfast Agreement”;

• “cross-community support”;

• “excepted matter”;

• “Northern Ireland legislation”;

• “reserved matter”; and

• “transferred matter”.

(4) In any enactment, whenever passed or made, any reference to a Minister of a Northern Ireland department shall, in the case of the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister, be construed as a reference to the First Minister and deputy First Minister acting jointly.]

F1 1978 c. 23

F2 SI 1999/663

F3 1996 c. 23

F4 2004 c.33

F5 1998 c. 47

F6 Definition ext. (costs in criminal cases), 1968 c. 10 (NI)

F7 1970 c. 25 (NI)