70.—(1) Summary proceedings for any offence under this Act may be prosecuted by the Minister.

(2) Subject to section 44 (4) of this Act, summary proceedings for any offence under this Act may be prosecuted by a person who is neither the Minister nor a member of the Garda Síochána with the consent of the Minister or an officer of the Minister, F214[…], nominated by the Minister for the purpose.

(3) Notwithstanding section 10 (4) of the Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851, proceedings for any offence under this Act may be instituted at any time within one year after the date of the offence.

F215[(4) Nothing in this section shall prevent the prosecution under the Customs Acts for offences committed under the said Acts in respect of a contravention of section 53A of this Act.]