Dublin Chosen for Major International Dispute Resolution CentreTánaiste Mary Harney officially opens the new Centre

The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mary Harney today (Wednesday 20th June 2001) officially opened the American Arbitration Association’s new International Centre for Dispute Resolution in Dublin. The Tánaiste said that the Associations choice of Ireland as the location for its first European office was testimony to Ireland’s growing importance in the world of international trade.

The AAA’s first International Centre for Dispute Resolution was opened in New York in 1996. The new centre is being opened in response to exponential growth in the AAA’s international caseload.

Speaking at the opening, the Tánaiste said "Increasing expansion in international trade undoubtedly leads to an increase in commercial disputes. Arbitration provides a way of settling these disputes in a satisfactory way outside of the ordinary court system. Properly managed, arbitration can be less expensive and speedier than litigation and allows for appropriate expertise to be brought to bear on the matter while guaranteeing the parties privacy and flexibility of approach."

"The growing importance and popularity of arbitration as a means of dispute settlement is evidenced by the fact that international cases for AAA have grown from 194 in 1996 to 510 in 2000. The AAA also has 54 cooperative agreements with international arbitral institutions in 39 other countries," she added.

The Tánaiste went on to confirm that Government policy is to position Ireland as an attractive venue for international commercial arbitrations, firmly set within the context of an eCommerce-friendly Knowledge Economy

"Ireland pioneered the Arbitration (International Commercial) Act, 1998 as evidence of our commitment to matching international best practice in the area of Arbitration. This Act allowed the State to adopt the Model Law of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law dealing with arbitration so as to provide a framework for international commercial arbitration in Ireland," the Tánaiste said

She continued "In addition, and quite apart from our highly skilled legal practitioners and a pool of highly experienced international arbitrators, Ireland has internationally experienced accounting, banking, financial and intellectual property experts along with engineering and architectural professionals well versed in international transactions."

The Tánaiste also referred to the growth in international eCommerce transactions and said that she believes that dispute resolution is going to be a key area of the Knowledge Economy. "While it is necessary to lay down an international legal framework for dispute resolution, we also believe that on-line arbitration will provide an alternative to the courts system," she said.

"Ireland has positioned itself well to be eCommerce friendly and to be an eCommerce hub. Our Electronic Commerce Act 2000 created a legal framework to facilitate the growth of e-business in Ireland. The Act established legal recognition of e-business transactions in most areas of business and private law by giving the same status to electronic signatures, electronic originals, electronic writing and electronic contracts as paper-based counterparts. Ireland is among the first countries in the world to bring forward such legislation," she added

"International dispute resolution is one of the fastest growing areas of our caseload," said William K. Slate II, President and CEO of the AAA. "Opening this office in Europe is a vital step to showing our international customers that we are fully committed to leading the field in the provision of global dispute management services."

Mark Appel has been appointed Senior Vice President, European Operations and will head the new office. An executive with 25 years of service to the AAA, Appel has served in a number of positions in offices around the United States. Most recently, Appel was responsible for the Association’s construction and mediation services.

A global leader in conflict management since 1926, the American Arbitration Association is a not-for-profit, public service organization committed to the resolution of disputes through the use of arbitration, mediation, conciliation, negotiation, democratic elections and other voluntary procedures. In 2000, more than 198,000 cases were filed with the Association in a full range of matters including commercial finance, construction, labour and employment, health care, insurance, mass claims and technology disputes. Through its offices in the Europe and the United States, the AAA provides a forum for the hearing of disputes, rules and procedures and a roster of impartial experts to resolve cases.

The Tánaiste concluded by paying tribute to The American Arbitration Association and its decision to locate in Ireland. "The new office will support the AAA’s European operations and provide a focus for outreach to the European business and legal communities. The AAA chose Dublin as the site because of Ireland’s vibrant economy because of the large and increasing number of international corporations currently conducting business here, because of our easy access to other European centres, and because Irish law has long supported the arbitration process."

"I am sure it is a decision that will prove be to be to our mutual benefit in the years ahead," she said.

For further information contact Peter O’Brien, Keating and Associates (01) 662 0345/087 811 4637