1.—(1) The registration authority must, in accordance with the provisions of this Act, maintain a register of persons carrying on a tobacco business (“the Register”).
(2) On the basis of information contained in the Register, the registration authority must, at all reasonable times, make available for public inspection—
(a)a list of premises at which tobacco businesses are carried on; and
(b)such other information as may be prescribed.
(3) The registration authority must make available to each council and the Department such information contained in the Register as that council or the Department may require.
(4) Information made available under subsection (3) to a council may be used by the council only for the purpose of enabling it or assisting it to perform its functions under—
(a)this Act;
(b)Part 2 of the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1978; and
(c)the Children and Young Persons (Protection from Tobacco) (Northern Ireland) Order 1991.
(5) In any proceedings for an offence under this Act a certificate issued by the registration authority which states that on any date a person was or was not registered in respect of any premises shall be evidence of the facts stated in it; and any such certificate which purports to be issued by the registration authority shall be taken to be so issued unless the contrary is proved.
(6) In this Act—
“registered” means entered in the Register, and “unregistered” is to be construed accordingly;
“the registration authority” means a body which is established or constituted by or under Northern Ireland legislation and is prescribed for the purposes of this Act.