55.— (1) In this section “relevant offence under financial services legislation” means an offence under financial services legislation to which section 10(4) of the Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act 1851 applies.

(2) Notwithstanding section 10(4) of the Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act 1851 and any provision of financial services legislation, summary proceedings for a relevant offence under financial services legislation may be instituted—

(a) at any time within 3 years 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 3 years 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 that 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.

(3) For the purpose of this section, a certificate signed by or on behalf of or jointly with 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 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.