Documentary Evidence Act, 1925

• Jurisdiction: Ireland

Number 24 of 1925.
DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE ACT, 1925.
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Section 1. Meaning of “Stationery Office.” 2. Proof of Acts of the Oireachtas. 3. Proof of proclamations and certain orders. 4. Proof of rules, regulations and byelaws. 5. Presumption of printing and publication by the Stationery Office. 6. Offences and penalties. 7. Authentication of official documents under Ministers and Secretaries Act, 1924. 8. Application of certain British Statutes. 9. Short title.
Act Referred to Ministers and Secretaries Act, 1924 No. 16 of 1924
Number 24 of 1925.
DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE ACT, 1925.
AN ACT TO REGULATE THE MODE OF PROOF OF OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS, TO MAKE PROVISION FOR THE PUNISHMENT OF OFFENCES IN RELATION TO OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES CONNECTED THEREWITH. [3rd July, 1925.]
BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS OF SAORSTÁT EIREANN AS FOLLOWS:—
	Meaning of “Stationery Office.”	1.—In this Act and in every other Act of the Oireachtas the expression “the Stationery Office” means and, in the case of an Act passed before this Act, shall be deemed always to have meant the Stationery Office established and maintained by the Government of Saorstát Eireann.
	Proof of Acts of the Oireachtas.	2.—Prima facie evidence of this or any other Act of the Oireachtas whether public or private, and whether passed before or after the passing of this Act, or of the Journal of the Proceedings of either House of the Oireachtas, may be given in all Courts of Justice and in all legal proceedings by the production of a copy of such Act or Journal printed under the superintendence or authority of and published by the Stationery Office.
	Proof of proclamations and certain orders.	3.—Prima facie evidence of any proclamation, order or other official document issued or made by the Governor-General on the advice of the Executive Council and of any proclamation issued by the Executive Council may be given in all Courts of Justice and in all legal proceedings in all or any of the ways hereinafter mentioned, that is to say:—
	(a) by the production of a copy of the Iris Oifigiúil purporting to contain such proclamation, order, or other official document; or
	(b) by the production of a copy of such proclamation, order or other official document printed under the superintendence or authority of and published by the Stationery Office; or
	(c) by the production of a copy of or extract from such proclamation, order or other official document purporting to be certified to be true by the Secretary to the Executive Council or by some other officer of the Executive Council authorised in that behalf by the President.
	Proof of rules, regulations and byelaws.	4.—(1) Prima facie evidence of any rules, orders, regulations, or byelaws to which this section applies, may be given in all Courts of Justice and in all legal proceedings by the production of a copy of the Iris Oifigiúil purporting to contain such rules, orders, regulations, or byelaws or by the production of a copy of such rules, orders, regulations, or byelaws printed under the superintendence or authority of and published by the Stationery Office.
	(2) This section applies to all rules, orders, regulations and byelaws made under the authority of any British Statute or any Act of the Oireachtas by—
	(a) the Governor-General on the advice of the Executive Council, or
	(b) the Executive Council, or
	(c) a Minister, or
	(d) any statutory body, corporate or unincorporate, exercising throughout the whole of Saorstát Eireann any function of government or discharging throughout the whole of Saorstát Eireann any public duties in relation to public administration.
	Presumption of printing and publication by the Stationery Office.	5.—(1) Every copy of an Act of the Oireachtas, proclamation, order, rule, regulation, byelaw, or other official document which purports to be published by the Stationery Office or to be published by the authority of the Stationery Office shall, until the contrary is proved, be...