Former Ictu secretary-general Peter Cassells was appointed independent mediator by Minister for the Marine Noel Dempsey late last year after Shell lifted its temporary injunction against the five men who had been in jail for 94 days - facilitating their release.
After several months of fact-finding, Mr Cassells initiated formal mediation in January, but participation by the men was suspended in early February over alleged interference by the Minister.
This arose over a written reply from the Minister to Mayo TD Dr Jerry Cowley (Ind) on January 25th in which he said that the role of the mediator is "wider than just the gas project" and also confirmed he was receiving briefings from Mr Cassells.
Following publication of ground rules by Mr Cassells in late March, mediation resumed. Late last month one of the five men, Brendan Philbin, confirmed that he had not participated in mediation but was fully supportive of the position taken by his colleagues.