3. —(1) The Minister for Finance may hold for so long as he or she thinks fit any shares in the Company subscribed for, taken up or acquired by that Minister under the Air Companies Acts.

(2) Subject to subsection (4), the Minister for Finance may, at such time or times as appear to him or her appropriate, sell, transfer, exchange, surrender, redeem or dispose of all or any of the shares in the Company on such terms and conditions as appear to that Minister to be appropriate.

(3) Any funds received in respect of the sale, transfer, disposal, surrender or redemption of any share to which subsection (2) refers shall be paid into or disposed of for the benefit of the Exchequer.

(4) Before exercising any of the powers conferred on him or her by subsection (2), the Minister for Finance shall consult with the Minister.

(5) The Minister for Finance may not dispose of any shares in the Company without the general principles of the disposal being laid before and approved by Dáil Éireann.

(6) Subsection (5) shall not apply to the exercise of powers conferred on the Minister for Finance by section 7 .