Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I will pick up on Ms Denning's comment that the aim of the courts is to treat everyone equally. While that is an understandable goal, and I understand where Ms Denning is coming from, it needs to be acknowledged that not everyone's needs are equal. To treat everyone equally risks excluding certain groups which may have extra needs. I appreciate that was not Ms Denning's intention but it causes me to ask whether anyone is employed in the Courts Service who is skilled or experienced in universal design. If a court is made accessible to those who have the greatest needs, those with the fewest needs will still be able to breeze in and out without a problem. If the Courts Service is designing new courthouses, how does it ensure that universal design aspect?