Irish eyes are mediating

Ireland's Law Reform Commission recently issued a lengthy report advocating that conciliation and mediation should be put forward into legislation with mediators being trained and accredited.  See the article in the Irishtimes.com here.  

The LRC's report is stunning in some respects.  The recommendation for accreditation is one that is somewhat controversial in the United States.  And, while Ireland provides it citizens with a right of access to the courts (and litigation must be available for them), the report states that mediation and conciliation ought to be seen as the final place for resolving disputes.

The article goes on to point out that the European Commission issued a directive on mediation and Ireland must implement the directive by 2011.  There is a dispute whether the directive applies to cross-border disputes, only.  Maybe they can hire a mediator to help on that one.