7. (1) Notwithstanding the repeal of the Higher Education Authority Act 1971 by section 5(1)—

(a) the body known as An tÚdarás um Ard-Oideachas (in this Act referred to as “An tÚdarás”) shall continue in being in accordance with the provisions of this Act, and

(b) anything commenced but not completed by that body before that repeal may be carried on and completed by An tÚdarás after that repeal as if that Act had not been repealed.

(2) An tÚdarás is a body corporate with perpetual succession and an official seal and shall have the power to sue, and may be sued, in its corporate name and may, with the consent of the Minister and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, acquire, hold and dispose of land, an interest in land or any other property.

(3) The seal of An tÚdarás shall be authenticated by—

(a) the signatures of 2 members of the Board, or

(b) the signatures of a member of the Board and a member of the staff of An tÚdarás authorised by the Board to act in that behalf.

(4) Judicial notice shall be taken of the seal of An tÚdarás and, accordingly, any document—

(a) purporting to be an instrument made by An tÚdarás, and

(b) purporting to be sealed with the seal of An tÚdarás authenticated in accordance with subsection (3),

shall, unless the contrary is shown, be received in evidence and taken to be such an instrument without further proof.