Mr. Justice John Hedigan:

The Senator is certainly pushing an open door as far as I am concerned. I cannot comment on any individual case. That would not be appropriate. For the last seven or eight years I represented the Irish courts at EU level on the European Network of Councils for the Judiciary. I worked on a number of different projects around improving mediation and alternative dispute resolution. It was my intention when I retired last October to turn around the other way from regulation of the area at a European level to becoming a mediator. I got myself accredited by the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution, CEDR. I am a big believer in mediation as a way of solving problems. It is infinitely preferable to almost any form of dispute that would come before a court for all parties if they could only realise it. I would certainly encourage banks or any other parties to look at the many different alternative dispute resolution systems that are in existence, and try to avail of them. I remember when I started in the Law Library my master used to say that very few people regret a case they settle but many people regret a case they fight. If one can possibly mediate, do it. I could not agree more.