Statute Law Revision Act 2025
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Evidence of certain instruments and designation of specified institution | ||
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6. (1) In addition to the provisions of the Evidence Act 1845, the Documentary Evidence Act 1868 and the Documentary Evidence Act 1882 (in so far as they relate to the publications set out in paragraph (a)), prima facie evidence of an instrument made before 1 January 1861 (including, if required, an instrument revoked by section 2 ) may be given in all courts and in all legal proceedings— | ||
(a) by producing a copy of the instrument as published in one of the following publications: | ||
(i) the Dublin Gazette (in Schedules 1 and 2 referred to as “D.G.”); | ||
(ii) the London Gazette (in Schedules 1 and 2 referred to as “L.G.”); | ||
(iii) “A Bibliography of Proclamations 1485-1910”, Volume IV, edited by Robert Steele and published in 1913 (in Schedule 2 referred to as “Steele Vol. 4”), | ||
or | ||
(b) by producing a copy taken from the copy of the instrument as published in any publication referred to in paragraph (a), where the copy so taken is certified by an official of a specified institution to be a true and accurate copy of the instrument as it appears in the publication concerned; and any document purporting to be a copy so taken (however expressed) shall be received in evidence without proof of the official position or handwriting of the person signing the certificate, or of his or her authority to do so. | ||
(2) (a) In subsection (1)(b) “specified institution” means the National Library of Ireland, or such other library or archive as may be designated in writing by the Minister under paragraph (b). | ||
(b) The Minister may designate a library or archive for the purposes of this section and, except where otherwise provided for by the designation, the designation shall be deemed to be made in respect of all of the publications referred to in subsection (1)(a). | ||
(c) A designation under paragraph (b) may be revoked by the Minister. | ||
(d) Notice of the making of a designation or a revocation under this subsection shall be published in Iris Oifigiúil as soon as practicable after it has been made. | ||
(3) A specified institution may impose a charge or charges for the purpose of covering the costs incurred by it in providing, under this section, a copy of an instrument, including costs relating to retrieving and copying from the publication concerned and checking and certifying the copy of the instrument. |