9.—(1) The Government may, at any time, appoint a body, the membership of which shall be recommended by An tÚdarás and shall include international experts and national experts, including employees of universities to which this Act applies, to advise An tÚdarás on whether, having regard to the objects and functions of a university under sections 12 and 13, an educational institution should be established as a university.

(2) On the advice of the body and the recommendation of An tÚdarás, but subject to subsection (3), the Government may, by order, provide that the institution shall be a university for the purposes of this Act and, on the making of the order, it shall be established accordingly.

(3) The Government shall not make an order under subsection (2) unless it has first caused to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas a draft of the proposed order and a resolution approving of the draft has been passed by both Houses.

(4) A university established under subsection (2) shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession and an official seal and have power to sue and may be sued in its corporate name and to acquire, hold and dispose of land or any other property.

F7[(5) In determining the amount of money to be allocated for the financial year to a university established under subsection (2) from moneys provided to An tÚdarás pursuant to F8[section 19 of the Higher Education Authority Act 2022 and section 37(1)], an tÚdarás shall ensure that the range and levels of programmes of education and training in that university and the number of enrolled learners (within the meaning of the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012) participating in those programmes are in accordance with such policies as may be determined from time to time by the Minister.]

F7[(6) An tÚdarás may give directions to a university for the purposes of subsection (5).]

F7[(7) A university established under subsection (2) shall act in accordance with such directions as may be given from time to time by An tÚdarás to the university under subsection (6).]