CHAMBERS NEWS MEDIATION
Anne Marie Blaney, Chairperson of CIArb Ireland and Siobhan Fahey, Chartered Engineer and Chartered Arbitrator, who presented at the Learn at Lunch mediation briefing hosted by Waterford Chamber and Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber
efficient way for businesses to resolve commercial disputes. Our experience in promoting mediation to business has taught us that one of the most significant challenges to getting more businesses to consider mediation is the need to change their behaviour when it comes to resolving disputes. For many the instinct remains that litigation should be the first course of action, rather than using alternative methods like mediation. Increasing education and raising awareness about the benefits of mediation is one of the primary objectives of Chambers Ireland. As a way of bridging the knowledge gap and increasing awareness of the benefits of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms among the business community, Chambers Ireland, supported by our colleagues in the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Mediators’ Institute of Ireland and the Law Society, worked with our Chamber Network to organise briefings for business. Earlier this year in February, one such mediation briefing was held as part of the regular Learn at Lunch event hosted by Waterford Chamber of Commerce. The event was also
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supported by Dungarvan and West Waterford Chamber. Chairperson of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Ireland, Anne-Marie Blaney, was joined by Dungarvan based engineer and mediator Siobhán Fahey, who spoke on the benefits of mediation for commercial businesses. On the importance of mediation, Waterford Chamber CEO Nick Donnelly said: “This scheme is hugely beneficial to the business community and can be given due consideration when matters of conflict arise, be it defamation and debt resolution, employment disputes or boardroom, partnership and shareholder disputes. It is cost effective and the whole process will only take up to eight weeks.” Speaking after the event, AnneMarie Blaney, Chair of CIArb Ireland said: “As Chairperson of CIArb, I was delighted to engage with the members of Waterford Chamber and Dungarvan and West Waterford Chamber in the first mediation briefing. I hope that Chambers throughout Ireland will realise the opportunity and endorse dispute resolution and mediation by hosting similar mediation briefings.” Additionally she noted: “The next government is urged to establish a
Parliamentary Group on Alternative Dispute Resolution in similar terms to the United Kingdom Government All-Party Parliamentary Group on ADR (APPG) established in November 2015. In both jurisdictions, our goal is to promote dispute avoidance and dispute management to encourage resolution away from litigation.” This view is also supported in our own pre-election manifesto, A Vision for 2021, where we call for a commitment from the next government to enact the Mediation Bill as soon as is practicable. Tralee Chamber Alliance, in conjunction with Bill Holohan of CIArb Ireland, also hosted a briefing for businesses on the benefits of mediation. Chief Executive Kieran Ruttledge noted: “A lot of members were unaware that mediation was an option for them so it was great to get a clear insight from Bill Holohan on the matter. His presentation was excellent with lots of stories from his past experiences of mediation matters and it certainly provided food for thought.” Chambers Ireland will be continuing our work to promote alternative dispute resolution to the Chamber Network and to Irish SMEs. Should you be interested in learning more about ADR and mediation or in referring a dispute to our Business and Commercial Mediation Scheme, please visit the Chambers Ireland website where you can download a referral form or contact mediation@chambers.ie. This publication has been produced with the financial support of the Civil Justice Programme of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the above named partners and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Commission.
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