Speech by Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Alan Shatter, T. D. at the Opening of the Dublin Dispute Resolution Centre 11 April, 2013I am pleased to be here today to formally open this impressive centre and I
thank the Dublin Dispute Resolution Centre for inviting me.
The term “Alternative Dispute Resolution”, commonly referred to as ADR,
embraces a number of processes such as arbitration, conciliation and
mediation. The fact that this centre provides a ‘one-stop-shop’ for
dispute resolution and can cater for a range of processes including
arbitrations, mediations, conciliations, adjudications and other forms of
ADR is a testament to the foresight of the Bar Council, Arbitration Ireland
and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators in setting up this venture.
I am delighted that my Department was in a position to tangibly demonstrate
its support for the re-development of the existing Arbitration Centre into
the Dublin Dispute Resolution Centre as you see it today by providing, in
2010, a grant of €50,000 towards the cost of refurbishment. As you know,
both my Department and the Office of the Attorney General have invested
heavily in policy and legislative terms in order to ensure that Ireland is
positioned, from a legal framework perspective, at the forefront of
arbitration process worldwide. We have a legislative framework in the
arbitration area which stands comparison with the best in the world and we
are an English speaking nation with a robust common law and constitutional
framework which is readily understood by those who do business both in
Ireland and internationally. For this reason I am very pleased to see the
re-development of the centre in its current form as it facilitates Ireland
in leveraging its investment in this area and it will I believe, deliver a
range of downstream benefits, over time, for our country.
There is a growing recognition that the objective of ensuring effective
access to justice can often be achieved in ways that parallel and
complement the traditional system of court-based litigation. I believe
ADR mechanisms have the capability to satisfy demands for dispute solutions
which are non-judicial in nature.
I am pleased, therefore, to see an increasing trend towards the use of
mediation as a tool for the resolution of civil disputes both in this
country and internationally. The fact that a Mediation Directive has been
given effect throughout the EU since 2011 provides ample evidence of an
increasing international dimension.
While the Directive has been given effect here in the European Communities
(Mediation) Regulations 2011, it is my intention to bring forward, shortly,
a broadly-based Mediation Bill to promote mediation as a viable, effective
and efficient alternative to court proceedings, thereby reducing legal
costs and speeding up the resolution of disputes. The legislation, which is
currently being drafted, will introduce an obligation on solicitors and
barristers to advise any person wishing to commence court proceedings to
consider mediation as a means of resolving a dispute before embarking on
such proceedings. It will also provide that a court may, following the
commencement of proceedings, on its own initiative invite parties to
consider mediation and suspend the proceedings to facilitate the mediation
process.
On the issue of arbitration, I believe that it carries with it certain
well-recognised and inherent advantages such as confidentiality, speed of
resolution and finality which may well commend itself to parties,
especially those who wish to maintain a commercial relationship well into
the future. For such parties, arbitration allows for solutions which
maximise privacy, provide the requisite flexibility and enable arbitrators
to be chosen whose skills and experience match the dispute. Perhaps most
importantly of all, there is the guarantee of enforceability which attaches
to arbitration awards by virtue of the various international conventions
which are in force in this area, most notably the New York Convention which
celebrated its fiftieth anniversary in 2008.
Since 2010, Ireland has had a modern Arbitration Act – the Arbitration Act
2010 – which applies the Model Law on arbitration to all arbitrations which
take place within the State. As such, it espouses key principles which are
especially important to large-scale commercial arbitrations such as party
autonomy and a court intervention system which is supportive of arbitration
but which aims at minimal interference in the overall process.
Ireland is a trade dependent country and I fully understand the importance
of arbitration to the international trading community. I also understand
that arbitration business is extremely mobile and, against that background,
I see no reason why Ireland should not develop as an arbitration centre of
note on the international stage. In support of that aim, we now have a
modern and rigorous arbitration code which is fully in tune with best
international practice. We also provide a single legislative reference
point for all arbitrations thereby offering a significant measure of
transparency for those who wish to have their dispute arbitrated in this
jurisdiction. With the opening of this centre we now have a purpose built
environment which can cater for ADR processes both nationally and
internationally.
Within the courts system, new rules to promote mediation and conciliation
in proceedings in the Superior Courts have been in force since 2010. These
rules provide for a mechanism similar to the type used extensively in the
Commercial Court whereby a judge can order the parties to engage in ADR.
The provisions specify that the refusal or failure without good reason of a
party to participate in mediation or conciliation may be taken into account
by the court when awarding costs. The aim of this measure is to minimise
the cost of the proceedings and to ensure that the time and other resources
of the court are employed optimally.
There is an ever-growing consciousness both of the need to promote a more
structured approach to ADR in the legal system and of the challenges which
must be met to ensure that ADR can flourish within that system. There is
general support and goodwill for the wider use of ADR and I am confident
that future developments in this area, such as the Mediation Bill, will
capitalise and expand upon the achievements which have been realised to
date so that Ireland’s capacity to offer enhanced ADR services across a
wide range of sectors will deepen and grow.
In that context, the Dublin Dispute Resolution Centre will, I believe,
prove to be a valuable resource for those wishing to engage in ADR. The
establishment of this centre is a demonstration of confidence in our own
future and indicative of the type of entrepreneurial thinking and “eye for
the opportunity” that Ireland needs as it continues to surmount the
challenges that it faces. I congratulate those involved in the Centre for
their forward thinking in this area and wish them well with their
endeavours.
Thank you