Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their contributions.

The point that Ms McNally made about justice being seen to be done is vitally important. There are clear problems that remote hearings throw up for people. Traditionally people want to have their day in court and if they are not actually allowed to be in court, they do not feel that this has happened. They also do not understand why it is not happening. This bring us to a broader point regarding the Covid-19 situation. In reality, the public must have confidence in whatever regulations we introduce, whether in the form of guidelines or measures with penal sanction. That is at the core of all of this and building that public confidence will require a level of leadership from everyone, not just from politicians but from various other sectors too. In that context, I commend the Bar Council and various other agencies for the work they have done to try to build public confidence, bring people along and help people to understand what has to happen here and how we have to try to deliver for everyone.

The issue that comes to mind immediately is how the infrastructure that is in place can be improved. Improvements to the infrastructure is one aspect and another is changes to the regulations to allow larger numbers to attend in certain circumstances. In general as we move around the Houses of the Oireachtas, apart from when we are in our seats or speaking, we wear masks to reduce the danger of spreading the virus. If guidelines were stricter in that regard then perhaps some of the buildings which were described as small and cramped with limited access could be reassessed in the context of the provision of court services.