25. (1) For the purposes of performing any one or more of its functions, a technological university may, either alone or jointly with another person, cause such one or more companies to be formed and registered under—

(a) the Companies Act 2014, or

(b) the laws of a place other than the State,

as it considers appropriate.

(2) A technological university may, for the purposes specified in subsection (1), acquire or hold shares or any other interest in, or become a member of, a company formed and registered under—

(a) the Companies Act 2014 (or an existing company within the meaning of that Act), or

(b) the laws of a place other than the State.

(3) F13[Subject to subsection (3A), a technological university] may only cause a company to be formed and registered under subsection (1) or acquire or hold shares or any other interest in, or become a member of a company under subsection (2), if the company is in such form consistent with this Act as may be determined by the technological university F14[…].

F15[(3A) A technological university shall obtain the consent of the Minister and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the company concerned referred to in subsection (3) is formed for purposes other than the manufacture or development of a product, service or process, or the creation and use of intellectual property connected therewith for commercial purposes, arising from the conduct of research or the undertaking of innovation activity by the technological university.]

(4) A technological university may dispose of shares or any other interest in a company to which this section applies.