Privacy Policy

Last updated: 22 September 2026

1. Who we are

The Mediation Centre is operated by Kieran Hickey as a sole trader. For the purposes of data protection law, Kieran Hickey trading as The Mediation Centre is the data controller for the personal information described in this policy.

2. Information we collect

Depending on how you deal with us, we may hold:

• Contact details such as your name, address, email address and phone number.
• Case information about the matter you want to mediate, including background, the other people involved, and notes from sessions.
• Family information such as details of children, parenting arrangements and living circumstances.
• Financial information such as income, assets, debts and outgoings, usually provided in a Statement of Means or Budget Sheet.
• Workplace information such as your role, employer and details of a workplace dispute.
• Signed documents such as your Agreement to Mediate and any agreement reached.
• Payment records showing fees invoiced and paid.
• Website information such as messages sent through our contact forms and basic technical data described in the Cookies section.

Special category information

Mediation sometimes involves sensitive information, for example about health, wellbeing or family relationships. We only hold this where it is relevant to your mediation and where you have chosen to share it with us, and we take extra care to protect it.

3. How we collect it

• Directly from you, when you contact us, book a call, complete our forms or questionnaires, sign documents, or take part in sessions.
• From the other party to the mediation, where they share information that relates to you as part of the process.
• From a person or organisation who refers you to us, such as a solicitor, employer or HR department, with your knowledge.

4. Why we use it and our legal basis

You can withdraw consent at any time by contacting us. This does not affect anything we did before you withdrew it, but it may mean we cannot continue with the mediation.

5. Confidentiality in mediation

Mediation is a confidential process under the Mediation Act 2017 and the terms of your Agreement to Mediate. What is said in mediation is not shared outside the process except:

• where all parties agree in writing;
• where disclosure is required by law;
• where disclosure is necessary to prevent serious harm to any person, in particular a child; or
• where it is needed to enforce or implement an agreement reached in mediation.

Information you share in a private session is not passed to the other party without your permission.

6. Who we share it with

We never sell your personal information. We only share it where necessary, with:

• Mediators working on your case, including any co mediator, who are bound by the same confidentiality obligations.
• Service providers who help us run the practice and act only on our instructions:
  • Google (Google Workspace) for email, calendar, document storage and online meetings
  • Zoho (Zoho Sign) for electronic signatures
  • Hostinger for website hosting
• Professional advisers and insurers, such as our accountant or professional indemnity insurer, where needed.
• Public authorities, such as Revenue, a court or Tusla, only where the law requires it or to prevent serious harm.

7. Transfers outside the EEA

Some of our service providers may process data outside the European Economic Area. Where this happens, we rely on recognised safeguards such as the European Commission's Standard Contractual Clauses or the EU US Data Privacy Framework, so your information receives the same level of protection.

8. How long we keep it

After these periods we securely delete or destroy the information, unless we need to keep it longer because of an ongoing legal matter.

9. How we keep it safe

• Records are stored in secure, password protected accounts with two step verification.
• Access is limited to those working on your case.
• Paper documents are kept securely and shredded when no longer needed.
• We use service providers that meet recognised security standards.

10. Your rights

You have the right to:

• ask for a copy of the personal information we hold about you;
• ask us to correct information that is wrong or incomplete;
• ask us to delete your information, where we have no legal reason to keep it;
• ask us to restrict how we use your information;
• object to us using your information based on our legitimate interests;
• receive your information in a portable format, where it applies; and
• withdraw your consent at any time.

To use any of these rights, email info@themediationcentre.ie. We will respond within one month. There is normally no charge. We may need to confirm your identity first.

Because mediation involves more than one person, we may need to withhold or redact information that relates to another party, or that was shared with us in confidence, in order to protect their rights.

11. Cookies

Our website uses cookies, which are small files stored on your device. Some are strictly necessary for the site to work. Others help us understand how visitors find and use the site, including through Google advertising. We will only set cookies that are not strictly necessary with your consent, and you can also block or delete cookies in your browser settings.

12. Complaints

If you have a concern about how we handle your information, please contact us first so we can try to put it right. You also have the right to complain to the Data Protection Commission:

13. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. The latest version will always be on this page, with the date it was last updated shown at the top.