11.—(1) Subject to subsection (5), summary proceedings for an offence under this Act may be brought by a local authority (whether or not the offence is committed in the authority’s functional area) or by the Agency.

(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), the Minister may, by regulations, provide that summary proceedings for an offence aforesaid specified in the regulations may be brought by such person (including the Minister) as is so specified.

(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 10 (4) of the Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851, summary proceedings in relation to an offence under this Act may be commenced—

(a) at any time within 12 months from the date on which the offence was committed, or

(b) if, at the expiry of that period, the person against whom the proceedings are to be brought is outside the State, within 6 months of the date on which he or she next enters the State, or

(c) at any time within 6 months from the date on which evidence that, in the opinion of the person by whom the proceedings are brought, is sufficient to justify the bringing of the proceedings, comes to such person’s knowledge,

whichever is the later, provided that no such proceedings shall be commenced later than 5 years from the date on which the offence concerned was committed.

(4) For the purpose of this section, a certificate signed by or on behalf of the person bringing the proceedings as to the date on which evidence relating to the offence concerned came to his or her knowledge shall be prima facie evidence thereof and in any legal proceedings a document purporting to be a certificate issued for the purpose of this subsection and to be so signed shall be deemed to be so signed and shall be admitted as evidence without proof of the signature of the person purporting to sign the certificate.

(5) Subject to any order under section 69, summary proceedings for an offence under this Act in respect of a failure to comply with a condition attached to a waste licence or any other requirements of or under this Act in relation to the carrying on of an activity, the subject of such a licence, may only be brought by the Agency.