Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 June 2026
716. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to provide an update on the establishment of a mediation council of Ireland as provided under the Mediation Act 2017; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45958/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe formation of the Mediation Council of Ireland is a key component of the Mediation Act 2017 and the overall development of mediation throughout Ireland. The Council will play an important role in promoting public awareness of mediation, maintaining and developing mediation standards (including continuous professional development) and establishing a national register of mediators.
Before a Ministerial Order can be made to designate a body as the Mediation Council of Ireland, the Mediation Council will first need to be established in its full membership of not less than eleven members, of which six, including the chair, must be public interest members. The Council must also act under its own agreed terms of association, as intended by the Oireachtas under the relevant legislation. To that end, a plenary meeting of the sector was held in early 2024, with the support of the Legal Aid Board, and with senior officials from my Department in attendance. This meeting agreed a clear direction that the mediation sector can work towards, along with support from my Department.
A Mediation Council Shadow Group was convened by the Legal Aid Board with the support of my Department to work towards the establishment of a Mediation Council of Ireland. The first meeting of the Shadow Group took place on 20 June 2024 and its work remains ongoing.
The agreed terms of reference provided that the group would principally work to establish a body as envisaged by Section 12 of the Mediation Act, 2017.
The terms of reference further provided that the Group would:
• review and agree arrangements for research;
• consider how to maintain and develop standards in the provision of mediation, to include a system of CPD training;
• develop a common Code of Practice, with potential input and involvement as needed from other statutory bodies;
• consider how a Register of Mediators could be established, maintained and would operate;
• consider and agree the criteria for the eleven members of the Council (and be reflective of the criteria set out in the Schedule to the Act); and,
• seek to work with the Department with the aim of bringing forward the case for an alternative funding model.
I look forward to seeing the outputs from the Mediation Council Shadow Group, including views on revised legislative provisions to facilitate establishment, and, in due course, the formal establishment and recognition of the Mediation Council of Ireland.
