(1) In any proceedings for an offence under section 71 -

(a) a certificate that is signed by an officer of the Department of Foreign Affairs and states that -

(i) a passport was issued by that Department of State to a person on a specified date, and

(ii) to the best of the officer’s knowledge and belief, the person has not ceased to be an Irish citizen,

is evidence that the person was an Irish citizen on the date on which the offence concerned is alleged to have been committed, unless the contrary is shown, and

(b) a certificate that is signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions or by a person authorised by him or her and that states that any of the matters specified in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of section 74(3) is evidence of the facts stated in the certificate, unless the contrary is shown.

(2) A document purporting to be a certificate under subsection (1) is deemed, unless the contrary is shown -

(a) to be such a certificate,

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