Cap. 579 Art. 10Preliminary hearing.

(1) In an action for defamation the Court shall appoint the case for a preliminary hearing within a period of twenty days from the time allowed for the filing of the sworn reply.

(2) The Court shall, at the preliminary hearing, after hearing the parties, decide whether the action may be determined by mediation or agreement between the parties or through an apology, in all cases with or without the payment of costs and or an amount of damages not exceeding one thousand euro (€1,000). When the court decides that there is a likelihood that the action is capable of being resolved by agreement or mediation between the parties it shall refer the parties to mediation to be concluded within a specified period after which the action shall proceed if no agreement is reached between the parties.

(3) Where the Court decides that the action may not be determined as provided in sub-article (2) it shall proceed with the hearing of the cause.