NI Chapter
The NI Chapter has over 100 members who come from a variety of disciplines ranging from legal, human resource, construction, sport and so on. Over the coming months there will be details on activities and courses organised by the committee. You will note the tab menu above for further information which will be updated regularly.
The Northern Ireland Chapter of the Irish Branch of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators held its AGM on Thursday 31st March in the Reform Club in Belfast. The meeting was well attended and the order of business included the following:
- Apologies
- Approval of 2010 AGM Minutes
- Convenors Report for 2010-2011
- Presentation and adoption of accounts
- Election of incoming committee
- Proposals for incoming year
- AOB
During 2010 the Chapter addressed many issues including the following:
The continuation of our Annual ADR Lecture series – this years’ theme was the use of ADR in the loss adjustment industry and we were treated to a seminar facilitated by Michael Burnett which was well attended.
The proper audit of NI Chapter members for the purposes of number clarification, contact details and about data held in both London and Dublin
The presence of Chapter Committee member James Golden as a independently duly elected member of the Branch Committee was a great boon for the Chapter and the decision to allow the NI Convenor to attend in an ex-officio capacity was seen as a positive development with the new Branch Model Rules providing the future backdrop to that change
The Branch/Chapter protocols developed in relation to education/training event autonomy and the due consideration of the unique jurisdictional position of the Chapter were successfully passed by the Branch Committee well in advance of such issues being raised as part of the Director Generals’ consultation processes in July 2010 and February 2011.
The establishment of a regular speaking slot for the Chapter representative during the academic year on the law degree (Under graduate and Post-graduate) programs at QUB where our very own member Dr Jack Anderson is a senior lecturer in law who specialises in ADR.
The Chapter was well represented via journal articles in the Arbitration Journal this year (Nov 2010 edition) in order to coincide with Joe Behan’s elevation to President
The on-going population of the newly designed Branch website with the dedicated NI Chapter space which we add to on a periodic if somewhat infrequent basis and also a reminder to members to avail of the “Up-date your profile” provision on the London based website (under members area)
Working closely with the Branch in areas of mutual concern such as the Cross-Border Mediation Directive which came into operation last week (23/3/11) in Northern Ireland, and the design of a conference on the impact of the Directive which is due to take place on 26th May 2011 (date for diaries)
Work continued on the development of a local construction arbitration scheme based upon the model devised by the Yorkshire Branch and this continues as a work in progress with test market research on-going as we speak.
Becoming recognised in the NI jurisdiction as a key stakeholder in the ADR fraternity as part of the NI Department of Justices’ review of Alternative Dispute Resolution which reports during April 2011
Working closely with the Branch and monitor developments ( eg) – work in co-ordination on Annual Planner, Moot potential contents of Chapter Business Plan in advance of submission, contribute to the Branch Strategic Review by Pat Brady, and keep abreast of Branch developments during 2011 – (eg) Branch office moving premises, development projects, “double-badging” and exemptions for members from other bodies such as CEDR, working with other mediation providers, Construction Contracts Bill (ROI) and so on.
Responding to the DG’s consultation Feb 2011 – twenty questions on Branch and chapter relationships that go far beyond the Branch Model Rules addendum and the funding correspondence in July
The 2010 Office Bearers were return en bloc unanimously
New General Committee members included Katrina and Gerry
