New mediation service for workplace disputes cannot be availed of due to lack of resources

People involved in workplace disputes are not able to take advantage of a new mediation service due to a lack of resources according to a new report.

A survey by the Employment Law Association of Ireland on the two-tier system introduced last year has revealed that parties are often ending up in an adjudication process when they would prefer mediation.

Over half of the professionals surveyed were unhappy with the new system, with three out of five saying there were inconsistencies in rulings.

Researcher Dr. Brian Barry from the ELAI says the findings are worrying but it is fixable: "The system that was in place before was unwieldy and complex, the new system has positives in terms of its architecture, it being a two-tier structure, and in that respect half the work is done and the new service needs to improve its procedures, to be a truly world class service."