Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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126. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality when she will publish the mediation Bill; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10218/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The position is that the Mediation Bill is currently being drafted in the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. It will introduce an obligation on solicitors and barristers to advise any person intending to commence legal proceedings to give consideration to using mediation as an alternative means of resolving disputes. It is intended that this will help to reduce recourse to the courts, as well as the costs and delays which may arise during court proceedings. The Bill will also provide that a court may, following the commencement of any such proceedings, on its own initiative or at the request of a party to the proceedings, invite the parties to consider mediation as an alternative option and suspend the proceedings to facilitate that process.

While I am not in a position at present to provide a publication date for the Bill, my intention is to publish it and proceed with enactment as soon as possible.