(1) In this Act -

"the Act of 1963" means the Companies Act, 1963;

"agents", in relation to a society, includes the bankers, solicitors and auditors of the society and past as well as present agents;

"bank" means the holder of a licence under section 9 of the Central Bank Act, 1971, and cognate words shall be construed accordingly;

"the Central Bank" means the Central Bank of Ireland.

"the Court" means the High Court;

"the Minister" means the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy;

"officers", in relation to a society, includes past as well as present officers;

"the Principal Act" means the Industrial and Provident Societies Act, 1893;

"the Registrar" means the registrar of friendly societies;

"society" means a society, including a credit union, registered under the Industrial and Provident Societies Acts, 1893 to 1978.