Mediators give tentative welcome to Mediation Bill

The Mediators’ Institute of Ireland (MII) has welcomed the publication of the Mediation Bill, but has raised concerns over its implementation.

Sabine Walsh, president of MII, said: “We welcome today’s publication of the Mediation Bill* and we are generally happy with it.

“However, we do see challenges with a number of proposals in the Bill, particularly those that could impact on the ability of the mediator to operate as effectively as possible.”

Last year, the bill was included in the Government’s legislative programme as priority legislation for publication during this Dáil term.

It aims to promote mediation as a supplement to court proceedings, which mediation advocates say would divert civil and commercial disputes away from the courts, saving time and money in the process.

Ms Walsh added: “The MII has long campaigned for this Bill, which will make mediation more available and deliver better resolutions, at a lower cost, to those who are involved in disputes

“This is a good news day as enactment of the Bill has the potential to divert many civil and commercial disputes from our courts and deliver major savings to individuals and the public purse.

“The MII now looks forward to working with the government and opposition parties to fine tune the Bill, ensure its effectiveness and expedite its passage through both houses of the Oireachtas.”