5.— (1) In any proceedings relating to an offence under section 3 in the circumstances referred to in subsection (1)(c)(i) of that section—

(a) a certificate that is signed by an officer of the Minister and stating that a passport was issued by the Minister to a person on a specified date, and

(b) a certificate that is signed by an officer of the Minister for Justice and Equality and stating that, to the best of the officer’s knowledge and belief, the person has not ceased to be an Irish citizen,

shall be 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.

(2) A document purporting to be a certificate under paragraph (a) or (b) of 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.