28.—(1) If before the hearing of any evidence in proceedings on an application for an order under Article 4 a statement is made to the court by or on behalf of the parties to the marriage showing a possibility of reconciliation between them, the court shall adjourn the proceedings for such period as it thinks fit.
(2) If at any stage of the proceedings on an application for an order under Article 4 it appears to the court that there is a reasonable possibility of reconciliation between the parties to the marriage, the court may adjourn the proceedings for such period as it thinks fit to enable attempts to be made to effect a reconciliation.
(3) Where the court adjourns any proceedings under paragraph (1) or (2), it may request that a suitably qualified person acting under arrangements made by the Department or any other person, willing and able to do so and acceptable to both parties, whom the court may appoint should attempt to effect a reconciliation between the parties to the marriage, and where any such request is made, the person so acting shall report in writing to the court whether the attempt has been successful or not, but shall not include in that report any other information.
(4) The powers conferred by this Article are additional to any other power of the court to adjourn proceedings.