Privilege
19.—(1)  Subject to subsection (2), the like privilege with respect to defamation exists with respect to —
(a)a mediation session; or
(b)a document or other material sent to, or produced at, a Community Mediation Centre for the purpose of enabling a mediation session to be arranged,
as exists with respect to judicial proceedings and a document produced in judicial proceedings.
(2)  The privilege conferred by subsection (1) shall not extend to a publication made otherwise than —
(a)at a mediation session;
(b)as provided by subsection (1)(b); or
(c)as provided by section 20.
(3)  Evidence of anything said or of any admission made in a mediation session is not admissible in any proceedings before any court, tribunal or body.
(4)  A document prepared for the purposes of, or in the course of, or pursuant to, a mediation session, or any copy thereof is not admissible in evidence in any proceedings before any court, tribunal or body.
(5)  Subsections (3) and (4) shall not apply with respect to any evidence or document —
(a)where the persons in attendance at or named during the mediation session and, in the case of a document, all persons named in the document consent to admission of the evidence or document;
(b)in proceedings instituted with respect to any act or omission in connection with which a disclosure has been made pursuant to section 20(c); or
(c)if the court is satisfied that, having regard to all the circumstances of the case, the admission of the evidence or document is necessary for the fair disposal of the case or to save costs.
(6)  In this section, “mediation session” includes any step taken in the course of making arrangements for a mediation session or in the course of the follow-up of a mediation session.