Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 July 2015
173. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide an update on the mediation Bill, as it provides substantial savings for the State and the Courts Service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29424/15]
View answerThe Mediation Bill, which is currently being drafted in the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, will introduce an obligation on solicitors and barristers to advise any person wishing to commence legal proceedings to give consideration to mediation as an alternative dispute resolution option before embarking on such proceedings. It will also provide that a court may, following the commencement of proceedings, on its own initiative or at the request of a party to the proceedings, invite all the parties to consider mediation as an alternative means of resolving the matter and suspend the proceedings to facilitate that process.
While it is not possible to give a specific date for publication of the Bill at this stage, I intend to proceed quickly with enactment of the Bill following its publication later this year.
