Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023

Amendment of section 10 of Misuse of Drugs Act 1984

57. (1) The Misuse of Drugs Act 1984 is amended by the substitution of the following section for section 10:

“10. (1) In any proceedings for an offence under the Principal Act or section 5 of this Act, the production of a certificate purporting to be signed by an officer of Forensic Science Ireland of the Department of Justice and relating to an examination, inspection, test or analysis, as the case may be, specified in the certificate of a controlled drug or other substance, product or preparation so specified shall, until the contrary is proved, be evidence of any fact thereby certified without proof of any signature thereon or that any such signature is that of such officer.”.

(2) The validity of any certificate under section 10 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1984 that was signed by an officer of Forensic Science Ireland of the Department of Justice before the coming into operation of subsection (1) shall not be affected by such coming into operation.