Equal Status Act, 2000
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Mediation. |
24.—(1) Subject to subsection (2), if at any time after a case has been referred to the Director under section 21 it appears to the Director that the case is one which could be resolved by mediation, the Director shall refer the case for mediation to an equality mediation officer. | |
(2) If the complainant or the respondent objects to a case being dealt with by way of mediation, the Director shall not exercise his or her powers under this section but shall deal with the case under section 25 . | ||
(3) Mediation shall be conducted in private. | ||
(4) Where a case referred under section 21 is resolved by mediation— | ||
(a) the equality mediation officer concerned shall prepare a written record of the terms of the settlement, | ||
(b) the written record of the terms of the settlement shall be signed by the complainant and the respondent, | ||
(c) the equality mediation officer shall send a copy of the written record, as so signed, to the complainant and the respondent, and | ||
(d) a copy of the written record shall be retained by the Director. | ||
(5) If, after a case has been referred to an equality mediation officer, it appears to the equality mediation officer that the case cannot be resolved by mediation, the officer shall issue a notice to that effect to the complainant and the respondent. | ||
(6) Where— | ||
(a) a notice has been issued under subsection (5) with respect to a case, | ||
(b) within 28 days from the issue of that notice the complainant makes an application to the Director for the resumption of the hearing of the case, and | ||
(c) a copy of that notice accompanies the application under paragraph (b), | ||
the Director shall deal with the case in accordance with section 25 . |