OIREACHTAS COMMITTEE ON JUSTICE:THE PROPOSAL in the Mediation Bill to establish standards and accreditation for mediators is very welcome, according to the president of the Mediators' Institute of Ireland (MII).
Karen Erwin, who stands down as president later this year, was addressing the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Women’s Rights, which is discussing the heads of the Mediation Bill. She said the institute established standards and sought to maintain them through training. It had more than 600 members, and expected to have 700 by the end of the year.
In order to have an MII practising certificate, members had to have undergone a minimum of 60 hours’ training, sign up to a code of ethics and have professional indemnity insurance. They also had to undergo continuing professional development every year.
However, there was no national or international statutory system of accreditation at the moment, so anyone could offer themselves as a mediator.
Mediation differed from both litigation and arbitration in that it looked to the future, not the past, and the parties did not have to persuade a third party. Instead the mediator helped them find their own solution to the dispute.
Asked if the institute would welcome a mediation qualification from Fetac, incoming president Gerry Rooney said it was not primarily an academic discipline, but they welcomed any suggestions to enhance the accreditation process.
