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Uimhir 24 de 1925.
ACHT UM FHIANAISE SCRÍBHINNE, 1925.
Brí “Oifig an tSoláthair.”
1.—San Acht so agus i ngach Acht eile den Oireachtas cialluíonn an focal “Oifig an tSoláthair” agus, i gcás Achta a ritheadh roimh an Acht so, tuigfar gur chialluigh sé riamh an Oifig Sholáthair a bunuíodh agus a coinnítear suas ag Rialtas Shaorstáit Éireann.
Cruthú ar Achtanna den Oireachtas.
2.—Féadfar fianaise prima facie ar an Acht so no ar aon Acht eile den Oireachtas, puiblí no príobháideach, pe'ca roimh rith an Achta so no ina dhiaidh sin a ritheadh é, no ar Chinn-lae Imeachta aon Tighe den Oireachtas, do thabhairt i ngach Cúirt Bhreithiúnais agus i ngach imeacht dlí tré chóip den Acht no den Chinnlae sin a clóbhuaileadh fé stiúra no fé údarás Oifig an tSoláthair, agus d'fhoillsigh an Oifig sin, do thaisbeáint.
Cruthú ar fhurógraí agus ar orduithe áirithe.
3.—Féadfar fianaise prima facie ar aon fhurógra, ordú no scríbhinn oifigiúil eile a tugadh amach no a dineadh ag an Seanascal ar chomhairle na hArd-Chomhairle, agus ar aon fhurógra a tugadh amach ag an Ard-Chomhairle, do thabhairt i ngach Cúirt Bhreithiúnais agus i ngach imeacht dlí i ngach slí no in aon tslí dá luaidhtear ina dhiaidh seo anso, sé sin le rá:—
(a) tré chóip do thaisbeáint den Iris Oifigiúil a thugann le tuisgint go bhfuil an furógra, an t-ordú no an scríbhinn oifigiúil eile sin inti; no
(b) tré chóip den bhfurógra, den ordú no den scríbhinn oifigiúil eile sin a clóbhuaileadh fé stiúra no fé údarás Oifig an tSoláthair agus d'fhoillsigh an Oifig sin do thaisbeáint; no
(c) tré chóip den bhfurógra, den ordú no den scríbhinn eile sin, no sliocht as, do thaisbeáint, cóip no sliocht a thugann le tuisgint go bhfuil a dhílse deimhnithe ag Rúnaí na hArd-Chomhairle no ag oifigeach éigin eile den Ard-Chomhairle go bhfuil údarás aige chuige sin ón Uachtarán.
Cruthú ar rialacha, ar rialacháin agus ar fho-dhlithe.
4.—(1) Féadfar fianaise prima facie ar aon rialacha, orduithe, rialacháin, no fo-dhlithe le n-a mbaineann an t-alt so do thabhairt i ngach Cúirt Bhreithiúnais agus i ngach imeacht dlí tré chóip do thaisbeáint den Iris Oifigiúil a thugann le tuisgint go bhfuil na rialacha, na horduithe, na rialacháin, no na fo-dhlithe sin inti, no tré chóip de sna rialacha, na horduithe, na rialacháin, no na fo-dhlithe sin a clóbhuaileadh fé stiúra no fé údarás Oifig an tSoláthair, agus d'fhoillsigh an Oifig sin, do thaisbeáint.
(2) Baineann an t-alt so le gach riail, ordú, rialachán agus fodhlí a dineadh fé údarás aon Reachta Bhriotáinigh no aon Achta den Oireachtas—
(a) ag an Seanascal ar chomhairle na hArd-Chomhairle, no
(b) ag an Ard-Chomhairle, no
(c) ag Aire, no
(d) ag aon chólucht reachtúil, corpruithe no nea-chorpruithe, a fheidhmíonn ar fuaid iomlán Shaorstáit Éireann aon fheidhm rialtais no a chó-líonann ar fuaid iomlán Shaorstáit Éireann aon dualgaisí puiblí a bhaineann le riarachán puiblí.
Tuigfar gurb í Oifig an tSoláthair a dhin an clóbhuala agus an foillsiú.
5.—(1) Gach cóip d'Acht den Oireachtas, d'fhurógra, d'ordú, de riail, de rialachán, d'fho-dhlí, no de scríbhinn oifigiúil eile a thugann le tuisgint gurb í Oifig an tSoláthair atá á foillsiú no gur fé údarás Oifig an tSoláthair atáthar á foillsiú, tuigfar, go dtí go gcruthófar a mhalairt, gur fé stiúra agus fé údarás Oifig an tSoláthair a clóbhuaileadh í agus gurb í an Oifig sin d'fhoillsigh í.
(2) Má foráltar le hAcht den Oireachtas, pe'ca roimh rith an Achta so no ina dhiaidh sin a ritheadh é, go mbeidh cóip d'aon fhurógra, ordú, riail, rialachán, fo-dhlí, no scríbhinn oifigiúil eile ina fianaise dho-chlaoite no ina fianaise prima facie, no ina fianaise, no go mbeidh aon éifeacht eile aici, nuair a thugann sí le tuisgint gur fé stiúra agus fé údarás, no fé stiúra, no fé údarás, Oifig an tSoláthair a clóbhuaileadh í, beidh an chóip sin, leis, ina fianaise dho-chlaoite, no ina fianaise prima facie, no ina fianaise, no beidh an éifeacht san aici (pe'ca aca is gá sa chás), má thugann sí le tuisgint gurb í Oifig an tSoláthair d'fhoillsigh í no gur le húdarás Oifig an tSoláthair a foillsíodh í.
Ciontaí agus pionóisí
6.—(1) Gach éinne a chlóbhuailfidh no a fhoillseoidh aon chóip d'Acht den Oireachtas no aon chóip d'fhurógra, d'ordú, de riail, de rialachán, d'fho-dhlí, no de scríbhinn oifigiúil eile a dineadh no a tugadh amach—
(a) ag an Ard-Chomhairle, no
(b) ag an Seanascal ar chomhairle na hArd-Chomhairle, no
(c) ag aon Aire atá ina cheann ar Roinn Stáit a bunuíodh leis an Acht Airí agus Rúnaithe, 1924 (Uimh. 16 de 1924), no
(d) ag aon chólucht, corpruithe no nea-chorpruithe, a fheidhmíonn ar fuaid iomlán Shaorstáit Éireann aon fheidhm rialtais no a chó-líonann ar fuaid iomlán Shaorstáit Éireann aon dualgaisí puiblí a bhaineann le riarachán puiblí,
cóip a thabharfidh le tuisgint go bréagach, gur fé stiúra no fé údarás Oifig an tSoláthair a clóbhuaileadh í no gurb í Oifig an tSoláthair d'fhoillsigh í no gur le húdarás na hOifige sin a foillsíodh í, beidh sé ciontach i bhfeleontacht agus ar a chiontú inti féadfar é chur fé phian-tseirbhís ar feadh aon téarma nách sia ná seacht mbliana no fé phríosúntacht i dteanta no d'éamais daor-oibre ar feadh aon téarma nách sia ná dhá bhliain.
(2) Gach éinne a chlóbhuailfidh no a fhoillseoidh aon scríbhinn a thugann le tuisgint gur cóip d'Acht den Oireachtas í no d'aon fhurógra, ordú, riail, rialachán, fo-dhlí no scríbhinn oifigiúil eile den tsórt a luaidhtear sa bhfo-alt san roimhe seo agus atá in aon phonc táchtach (pe'ca tré chur léi, no tré fhágaint-ar-lár, no ar shlí eile) gan bheith ina cóip dhílis den Acht no den scríbhinn sin, beidh sé ciontach i bhfeleontacht agus ar a chiontú inti féadfar é chur fé phian-tseirbhís ar feadh aon téarma nách sia ná seacht mbliana no fé phríosúntacht i dteanta no d'éamais daor-oibre ar feadh aon téarma nách sia ná dhá bhliain.
(3) Má thairgeann éinne mar fhianaise in aon Chúirt Bhreithiúnais no in aon imeachta dlí cóip d'aon Acht den Oireachtas no d'aon ordú, riail, rialachán, fo-dhlí, no scríbhinn oifigiúil eile den tsórt a luaidhtear i bhfo-alt (1) den alt so, cóip a thugann le tuisgint agus go gcuirfidh an duine sin in úil gur fé stiúra no fé údarás Oifig an tSoláthair a clóbhuaileadh í no gurb í Oifig an tSoláthair d'fhoillsigh í no gur le húdarás na hOifige sin a foillsíodh í agus, go bhfios don duine sin, nár clóbhuaileadh amhlaidh í no nár foillsíodh amhlaidh í, beidh an duine sin ciontach i mí-iompar agus ar a chiontú ann féadfar é chur fé phian-tseirbhís ar feadh aon téarma nách sia ná cúig bliana no fé phríosúntacht i dteanta no d'éamais daor-oibre ar feadh aon téarma nách sia ná dhá bhliain.
(4) Má thairgeann éinne mar fhianaise in aon Chúirt Bhreithiúnais no in aon imeachta dlí scríbhinn a thugann le tuisgint agus go gcuirfidh an duine sin in úil gur cóip d'Acht den Oireachtas í no d'aon fhurógra, ordú, riail, rialachán, fo-dhlí, no scríbhinn oifigiúil eile den tsórt a luaidhtear i bhfo-alt (1) den alt so agus atá, in aon phone táchtach (pe'ca tré chur léi, no tré fhágaint-arlár, no ar shlí eile) agus go bhfios don duine sin, gan bheith ina cóip dhílis den Acht no den scríbhinn sin, beidh an duine sin ciontach i mí-iompar agus ar a chiontú ann féadfar é chur fé phian-tseirbhís ar feadh aon téarma nách sia ná cúig bliana no fé phríosúntacht i dteanta no d'éamais daor-oibre ar feadh aon téarma nách sia ná dhá bhliain.
Deimhniú scríbhinní oifigiúla fén Acht Airí agus Rúnaithe, 1924.
7.—(1) Féadfidh Aire atá ina cheann ar Roinn Stáit a bunuíodh fén Acht Airí agus Rúnaithe, 1924 (Uimh. 16 de 1924), údarás do thabhairt, aon tráth no tráthanna, do bhreis agus éinne amháin chun séala an Aire sin do dheimhniú le n-a shighniú agus má thugann aon Aire den tsórt san an t-údarás san do bhreis agus éinne amháin beidh séala an Aire deimhnithe a dhóthin chun crícheanna fo-alt (1) d'alt 15 den Acht san má bhíonn sé deimhnithe le sighniú duine de sna daoine atá údaruithe amhlaidh de thurus na huaire.
(2) Féadfidh aon Aire den tsórt san roimhráite údarás do thabhairt, aon tráth no tráthanna, do bhreis agus oifigeach amháin dá Roinn Stáit chun orduithe agus instruimidí do dheimhniú fé fho-alt (4) d'alt 15 den Acht roimhráite agus, má tugtar údarás amhlaidh do bhreis agus oifigeach amháin den tsórt san, is leor sighniú éinne amháin de sna hoifigigh atá údaruithe amhlaidh de thurus na huaire mar dheimhniú ar aon ordú no instruimid is féidir a dheimhniú fén bhfo-alt san le sighniú an Aire sin.
(3) Tuigfar go raibh éifeacht ag an alt so o thosach feidhme an Achta san Airí agus Rúnaithe, 1924.
Feidhmiú Reachtanna Briotáineacha áirithe.
8.—Ní bhainfidh an Evidence Act, 1845, an Documentary Evidence Act, 1868, ná an Documentary Evidence Act, 1882, le haon scríbhinn le n-a mbaineann an tAcht so ach i ngach slí eile leanfidh na hAchtanna san den bhfeidhm agus den éifeacht chéanna do bheith acu do bhí acu fé seach díreach roimh rith an Achta so.
Gearr-theideal.
9.—Féadfar an tAcht um Fhianaise Scríbhinne, 1925, do ghairm den Acht so.
Number 24 of 1925.
DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE ACT, 1925.
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Section | |
Presumption of printing and publication by the Stationery Office. | |
Authentication of official documents under Ministers and Secretaries Act, 1924. | |
Act Referred to | |
No. 16 of 1924 | |
Number 24 of 1925.
DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE ACT, 1925.
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 presumed to have been printed under the superintendence and authority of and to have been published by the Stationery Office.
(2) Where an Act of the Oireachtas, whether passed before or after the passing of this Act, provides that a copy of any proclamation, order, rule, regulation, byelaw, or other official document shall be conclusive evidence or be prima facie evidence, or be evidence, or have any other effect when purporting to be printed under the superintendence and authority, or the superintendence, or the authority, of the Stationery Office, such copy shall also be conclusive evidence or prima facie evidence or evidence or have the said effect (as the case may require) if it purports to be published by the Stationery Office or to be published by the authority of the Stationery Office.
Offences and penalties.
6.—(1) Every person who shall print or publish any copy of an Act of the Oireachtas or any copy of a proclamation, order, rule, regulation, byelaw, or other official document made or issued—
(a) by the Executive Council, or
(b) by the Governor-General on the advice of the Executive Council, or
(c) by any Minister who is the head of a Department of State established by the Ministers and Secretaries Act, 1924 (No. 16 of 1924), or
(d) by any 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,
which copy shall falsely purport to have been printed under the superintendence or the authority of the Stationery Office or to have been published by or by the authority of the Stationery Office shall be guilty of felony and shall be liable on conviction thereof to suffer penal servitude for any term not exceeding seven years or imprisonment with or without hard labour for any term not exceeding two years.
(2) Every person who shall print or publish any document which purports to be a copy of an Act of the Oireachtas or of any such proclamation, order, rule, regulation, byelaw or other official document as is mentioned in the foregoing sub-section and which is in any material respect (whether by addition, omission, or otherwise) not a true copy of such Act or document shall be guilty of felony and shall be liable on conviction thereof to suffer penal servitude for any term not exceeding seven years or imprisonment with or without hard labour for any term not exceeding two years.
(3) If any person shall tender in evidence in any Court of Justice or any legal proceedings a copy of any Act of the Oireachtas or of any such order, rule, regulation, byelaw, or other official document as is mentioned in sub-section (1) of this section which copy purports and is represented by such person to have been printed under the superintendence or the authority of the Stationery Office or to have been published by or by the authority of the Stationery Office and was to the knowledge of such person not so printed or not so published, such person shall be guilty of a misdemeanour and shall be liable on conviction thereof to suffer penal servitude for any term not exceeding five years or imprisonment with or without hard labour for any term not exceeding two years.
(4) If any person shall tender in evidence in any Court of Justice or in any legal proceedings a document which purports and is represented by such person to be a copy of an Act of the Oireachtas or of any such proclamation, order, rule, regulation, byelaw, or other official document as is mentioned in sub-section (1) of this section and is to the knowledge of such person in any material respect (whether by addition, omission, or otherwise) not a true copy of such Act or document, such person shall be guilty of a misdemeanour and shall be liable on conviction thereof to suffer penal servitude for any term not exceeding five years or imprisonment with or without hard labour for any term not exceeding two years.
Authentication of official documents under Ministers and Secretaries Act, 1924.
7.—(1) A Minister who is head of a Department of State established under the Ministers and Secretaries Act, 1924 (No. 16 of 1924) may at any time or times authorise more than one person to authenticate by his signature the seal of such Minister, and where more than one person is so authorised by any such Minister the seal of such Minister shall be sufficiently authenticated for the purposes of sub-section (1) of section 15 of the said Act if it is authenticated by the signature of one of the persons who are for the time being so authorised.
(2) Any such Minister as aforesaid may at any time or times authorise more than one officer of his Department of State to authenticate orders and instruments under sub-section (4) of section 15 of the Act aforesaid, and where more than one such officer is so authorised any order or instrument which can under that sub-section be authenticated by the signature of such Minister shall be sufficiently authenticated by the signature of any one of the officers who are for the time being so authorised.
(3) This section shall be deemed to have had effect as from the commencement of the said Ministers and Secretaries Act, 1924.
Application of certain British Statutes.
8.—The Evidence Act, 1845, the Documentary Evidence Act 1868, and the Documentary Evidence Act, 1882, shall not apply to any document to which this Act applies but in all other respects the said Acts shall continue to have the same force and effect as they respectively had immediately before the passing of this Act.
Short title.
9.—This Act may be cited as the Documentary Evidence Act, 1925.