Criminal Justice (Female Genital Mutilation) Act 2012

Evidence in proceedings for offences outside State.

12.— (1) In any proceedings relating to an offence under section 4 in the circumstances referred to in subsection (1)(c) of that section—

(a) a certificate that is signed by an officer of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and stating that a passport was issued by that Minister of the Government to a person on a specified date, and

(b) a certificate that is signed by an officer of the Minister for Justice and Equality and stating that, to the best of the officer’s knowledge and belief, the person has not ceased to be a citizen of Ireland,

shall be evidence that the person was a citizen of Ireland on the date on which the offence concerned is alleged to have been committed, unless the contrary is shown.

(2) A document purporting to be a certificate under paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (1) is deemed, unless the contrary is shown—

(a) to be such a certificate, and

(b) to have been signed by the person purporting to have signed it.