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Definitions. 
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1.—In this Act— 
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the expression “the Minister” means the Minister for Local Government and Public Health; 
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the expression “voluntary hospital” means an institution in respect of which both of the following conditions are complied with, that is to say:— 
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(a) that it does any one or more of the following things, that is to say:— 
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(i) provides for the prevention, treatment or cure of disease, injury or deformity in human beings, 
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(ii) affords medical, surgical or dental treatment to human beings, 
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(iii) affords asylum to blind, deaf, dumb or mentally defective persons, 
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(iv) affords asylum to expectant mothers or to mothers of children under the age of five years and such children, and 
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(b) that its governing body is not— 
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(i) a department of State, or 
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(ii) any one or more of the following local authorities, that is to say:— 
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(I) a county council, 
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(II) an authority charged with the administration of the Poor Relief (Ireland) Acts, 1878 to 1914, 
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(III) a sanitary authority, or 
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(iii) a committee of any one of such local authorities, or 
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(iv) a joint committee of two or more of such local authorities. 
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