In addition and without prejudice to the powers now vested in or possessed by the Bank for the carrying on of the business of banking and notwithstanding anything contained in the Charter or the Bank's Acts, the Bank shall for the purpose of or as ancillary to the business of banking carried on by it be entitled and have power to do all or any of the following things, that is to say: -

(a) to establish and maintain branches or agencies in any place within or outside Saorstát Eireann;

(b) to establish, maintain, and remunerate committees, local boards of directors, local managers, consulting committees, or local agents in any place outside Saorstát Eireann;

(c) to acquire the whole or any part of the banking business and assets whether within or outside Saorstát Eireann of any person engaged in the business of banking but subject to the restrictions contained in paragraph (i) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of this Act;

(d) to acquire and hold shares in any limited or other company carrying on the business of banking whether within or outside Saorstát Eireann but subject to the restrictions contained in paragraph (i) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of this Act;

(e) to enter into and carry out partnership or other working arrangements with or lend money to or guarantee the contracts of any person carrying on the business of banking whether within or outside Saorstát Eireann;