(1) Upon the request of any party to a personal injuries action or upon its own initiative, the court may -

(a) at any time before the trial of such action, and

(b) if it considers that the holding of a meeting pursuant to a direction under this subsection would assist in reaching a settlement in the action,

direct that the parties to the action meet to discuss and attempt to settle the action, and a meeting held pursuant to a direction under this subsection is in this Act referred to as a "mediation conference".

(2) Where the court gives a direction under subsection (1), each party to the personal injuries action concerned shall comply with that direction.

(3) A mediation conference shall take place -

(a) at a time and place agreed by the parties to the personal injuries action concerned, or

(b) where the parties do not agree a time and place, at a time and place specified by the court.

(4) There shall be a chairperson of a mediation conference who shall -