Frank Fahey (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

I indicated on Committee Stage in the Dáil that I would consult with the Parliamentary Counsel on the feasibility of reflecting the term "designed for all" to have the same meaning as "universal design" in the work of the new centre of excellence to be established by the National Disability Authority. The advice available to me is that there are legal and technical reasons as to why it is not possible to provide in the Bill that "universal design" means also "design for all".

The words in each case may be interchangeable, based as they are on usage nationally and internationally. However, the words in legislation have specific meaning and I am informed that it is not the practice to use certain words in a statute and to state in the same statute that other words, even though not used anywhere else in the statute, may be defined as having the same meaning. As far as can be identified, there is no precedent in our legislative code.

The wording in the Bill, "universal design", is in line with the use of those words internationally. No doubts arise for legislative purposes about their meaning. They achieve their purpose in the Bill as it stands. I am satisfied, on the advice given to me, that there is no need for change.