The establishment of ICDR Ireland was announced at the Irish consulate in New York on St Patrick’s Day by the Irish government’s minister for enterprise, tourism and employment, Peter Burke, along with Bridget McCormack, president and CEO of the American Arbitration Association-International Centre for Dispute Resolution (AAA-ICDR).

ICDR Ireland will serve international commercial arbitration matters across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), with an advisory board and a panel of Irish arbitrators available for international cases.

Mr Burke said: “Ireland has built its reputation as a trusted, rules-based, and business-friendly location for international companies, and the development of ICDR Ireland further strengthens our position as a gateway for US firms operating across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

“The government is keen to support the establishment of ICDR Ireland and to work with partners to develop Ireland as a leading international arbitration hub, complementing our strong legal system, pro-enterprise environment, and deep economic ties with the United States.”

Ms McCormack added: “We are pleased to establish ICDR Ireland to support businesses navigating cross-border disputes across EMEA and around the world.

“AAA-ICDR is uniquely suited to support the international business community, with deep practice area expertise and an expanding array of technologies to help scale ADR solutions.

“With more than 970 US companies operating in Ireland and a vibrant international business community, Ireland plays an increasingly important role in global commerce.

“We look forward to providing access to world-class ADR services that support innovation, investment, and durable commercial relationships.”

Irish barrister Cían P. Kelly has been appointed to the AAA-ICDR Council and will chair the ICDR Ireland advisory board.

“I am very grateful for the efforts of those that helped to make this happen and I am very excited for this opportunity to develop Ireland into a major international commercial arbitration hub,” he told Irish Legal News.

“This initiative will be a key facet of Ireland’s offering to international corporations based here and those considering setting up in Ireland.”

The AAA-ICDR provides dispute resolution services to parties around the world, demonstrating a longstanding commitment to meeting users wherever they operate. Since 1996, over 22,000 international cases have been filed with the AAA-ICDR.