9.—(1) If it appears to the Welsh Ministers that—
(a)there is an absence of agreement between persons entitled to appear on a matter which is relevant to the inquiry;
(b)the inquiry would be conducted more efficiently and expeditiously if agreement could be reached in relation to that matter or any disagreement in relation to it could be defined and narrowed; and
(c)such a result is capable of being achieved by mediation,
then they may at any time appoint a mediator for that purpose.
(2) A mediator must be a person appearing to the Welsh Ministers to have been trained in mediation techniques by an independent mediation organisation.
(3) Where the Welsh Ministers appoint a mediator, they may in writing require the applicant to publish by local advertisement and within such period as they may specify a notice stating the name of the person so appointed and the matter in relation to which that person is to mediate.
(4) Where the Welsh Ministers require the applicant to publish a notice under paragraph (3), as soon as reasonably practicable after the applicant has complied with that paragraph, the Welsh Ministers must publish that notice on a website.
(5) The mediator must determine the procedure for the mediation.
(6) Within seven days from the conclusion of the mediation, the mediator must give to the inspector a report describing the mediation procedure and its outcome and the inspector must, as soon as practicable after receipt, send the report to persons entitled to appear.
(7) The inspector must permit any person entitled to appear to address the inspector on the report referred to in paragraph (6), but the mediator is not to give evidence at the inquiry.