31.—(1) A university may have a charter, not in conflict with this Act, setting out all or any of the following:

(a) its objects and functions in respect of its academic and administrative affairs;

(b) the arrangements it has for the promotion and use of the Irish language and the promotion of Irish cultures;

(c) the composition of the governing authority and its functions;

(d) the rights of its employees and students and their responsibility towards the university and the responsibility of the university towards them;

(e) the arrangements for review of, or appeals against, decisions of the governing authority or the academic council which affect employees or students;

(f) its policy in respect of the promotion of equality of opportunity among students and employees;

(g) its policy in respect of adult and continuing education and the arrangements in place for the provision of that education, including part-time and evening courses; and

(h) any other matters the governing authority may consider relevant.

(2) In preparing a charter, the governing authority shall consult, in such manner as it thinks appropriate, with the academic staff and other employees of the university, any recognised trade union or staff association, any recognised student union or other student representative body, or with any other person or group, both within and outside of the university, it considers should be consulted.

(3) A charter made under this section by a governing authority of a constituent university or Trinity College shall be supplemental to the charter of that university in force at the commencement of this Part.

(4) A draft of a proposed charter under this section may be submitted by the governing authority to the Government with a request that it be recognised, and the Government shall, by order, recognise the charter as so drafted.

(5) An order under subsection (4) shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as practicable after it is made and, if a resolution annulling the order is passed by either House within the next 21 days on which that House has sat after the order is laid before it, the order shall be annulled accordingly but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under the order or the charter which the order recognised.