74. The Act of 1997 is amended by the insertion of the following sections after section 16 (inserted by section 73):

“Composition of governing authority of Trinity College, Dublin

16A. (1) Subject to this Part and notwithstanding section 3(2) of The Trinity College, Dublin (Charters and Letters Patent Amendment) Act 2000, the governing authority of Trinity College (known as the Board of Trinity College) shall consist of the following members:

(a) 19 members appointed in accordance with section 16;

(b) such further number of members, who are fellows of Trinity College, appointed by the governing authority, provided that the number of external members (including the chairperson) of the governing authority shall comprise not less than 40 per cent of its membership.

(2) Clause 4 of the Supplemental Letters Patent of 1911 (within the meaning of The Trinity College, Dublin (Charters and Letters Patent Amendment) Act 2000) is amended by the substitution of “shall be in accordance with the provisions of the Universities Act 1997” for “shall be in accordance with the provisions of The Trinity College, Dublin (Charters and Letters Patent Amendment) Act 2000”.

Referral of matter for conduct of General Visitation by Trinity College Visitors

16B. (1) An tÚdarás may, if it has a concern regarding a matter relating to the governance of Trinity College or the performance by Trinity College of its functions or compliance by it with its obligations, request the Visitors of Trinity College in writing to conduct a General Visitation in accordance with the statutes of Trinity College as respects the matter.

(2) An tÚdarás shall specify in a request under subsection (1) the matter the subject of its concern and the reasons for the request.

(3) The Visitors of Trinity College shall consider a request received under subsection (1) and shall, if they are satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for a General Visitation and that it is appropriate to do so, conduct a General Visitation as respects the matter specified in the request in accordance with the statutes of Trinity College.

(4) The Visitors of Trinity College shall, within such period as may be agreed with An tÚdarás, report in writing to An tÚdarás on the General Visitation and the outcome thereof and they shall furnish such a report to the governing authority of Trinity College.

(5) This section is without prejudice to Part 8 of the Higher Education Authority Act 2022 as respects Trinity College.

(6) An tÚdarás shall provide a copy of a report received by it under subsection (4) to the Minister.

(7) In this section—

‘General Visitation’, in relation to Trinity College, has the meaning it has in the statutes of Trinity College;

‘Visitors of Trinity College’, means the persons appointed as the Visitors of Trinity College pursuant to the statutes of Trinity College.”.