Mediation Awareness Week begins with launch of workplace report

Mediation Awareness Week opens today with the launch of a new report on the development of workplace mediation in Ireland.

The report, commissioned by the Mediators’ Institute of Ireland (MII), was discussed by a panel of mediation experts in Dublin today.

Sabine Walsh, president of the MII, said: “Mediation Awareness Week kicks off today in Ireland, the UK and many other countries around the world. An enormous range of activities are being held to draw the attention of members of the public to mediation and its potential for resolving disputes.

“This report, commissioned by the MII and carried out under the auspices of the Edward M Kennedy Institute for Conflict Intervention at the National University Maynooth makes concrete recommendations in relation to training, standards and practice for workplace mediation and identifies areas for further research.

“Not only is the report interesting and hugely valuable, but the energy and enthusiasm of those involved in preparing it is enough to inspire any mediation-sceptic to read it.”

Kieran Mulvey, former director general of the Workplace Relations Commission, chaired the launch event earlier today.

The preliminary findings from the project were presented at the NW Dispute Resolution Conference in Washington University in March this year and at the World Mediation Summit in Madrid in June.

The report is available from the Kennedy Institute Workplace Mediation Research Group’s website.