What are your thoughts on forthcoming legislation on mediation in employment?

This question is presumably referring to the proposed mediation option in employment disputes as part of the significant reforms being introduced by the new Workplace Relations Service. Our view is that the proposed restructuring of the workplace dispute resolution structures in Ireland is warmly welcomed and long overdue. The current system of resolving employment disputes has a number of significant shortcomings. These include long delays in obtaining hearing dates in many situations and the "trial by ambush" nature of many of those hearings.

There are undoubtedly many employment disputes which could be resolved at a much earlier stage through a flexible and user friendly mediation /