(1) Where a liable relative is in the service of the State, a local authority for the purposes of the Local Government Act, 1941, a harbour authority within the meaning of the Harbours Act, 1946, a health board, a vocational education committee established by the Vocational Education Act, 1930, or a committee of agriculture established by the Agriculture Act, 1931, or is a member of either House of the Oireachtas -
(a) in a case where a liable relative in the service of the State is employed in a department, office, organisation, service, undertaking or other body, its chief officer (or such other officer as the Minister of the Government by whom the department, office, organisation, service, undertaking or other body is administered by may from time to time designate) shall, for the purposes of this Act, be regarded as having the liable relative in his employment,
(b) in a case where a liable relative is in the service of such an authority, board or committee, its chief officer s