42. (1) There shall stand established on the establishment day a body which shall be known as an tÚdarás Rialála Limistéir Mhuirí or, in the English language, the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (in this Act referred to as the “MARA”) to perform the functions assigned to it under this Act or any other enactment.

(2) The MARA is a body corporate with perpetual succession and an official seal and may—

(a) sue and be sued in its own name,

(b) with the consent of the Minister and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, acquire, hold and dispose of land or an interest in land, and

(c) acquire, hold and dispose of any other property.

(3) The seal of the MARA shall be authenticated by—

(a) the signature of the chairperson or another member of the Board (M) authorised in writing by the chairperson to do so, and

(b) the signature of the chief executive officer or another officer of the MARA authorised in writing by the chairperson to do so.

(4) Judicial notice shall be taken of the seal of the MARA, and every document purporting to be an instrument made by the MARA and sealed with the seal of the MARA authenticated in accordance with subsection (3) shall, unless the contrary is shown, be received in evidence and be deemed to be that instrument without further proof.