19. (1) In any proceedings for an offence under this Act—

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

(b) a certificate that is signed by an officer of the Minister 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 referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (1) is deemed, unless the contrary is shown—

(a) to be such a certificate, and

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