16.—(1) A person appointed under section 15(4) to be the chairperson of a mediation conference shall prepare and submit to the court hearing the personal injuries action concerned a report, which shall set out—

(a) where the mediation conference did not take place, a statement of the reasons as to why it did not take place, or

(b) where the mediation conference did take place—

(i) a statement as to whether or not a settlement has been reached in the personal injuries action concerned, and

(ii) where a settlement has been entered into, a statement of the terms of the settlement signed by the parties thereto.

(2) A copy of a report prepared under subsection (1) shall be given to each party to the personal injuries action at the same time as it is submitted to the court under that subsection.

(3) At the conclusion of a personal injuries action, the court may—

(a) after hearing submissions by or on behalf of the parties to the action, and

(b) if satisfied that a party to the action failed to comply with a direction under section 15(1),

make an order directing that party to pay the costs of the action, or such part of the costs of the action as the court directs, incurred after the giving of the direction under section 15(1).