Dispute Resolution Board

The Dispute Resolution Board deals with the processing of disputes concerning construction contracts between private companies or public bodies. Engineers Ireland plays a significant role in facilitating dispute resolution in Ireland.

Our 11-member Dispute Resolution Board consists of consulting engineers, contractors, public servants, solicitors and dispute resolution professionals. Their role is to review and develop Engineers Ireland’s policies and procedures relating to dispute resolution in the industry. The Board is also responsible for managing Engineers Ireland’s four dispute resolution panels (Arbitrators, Conciliators, Mediators and Adjudicators) and for organising seminars and events to support member-learning in this area.

The Board is appointed by the Council of Engineers Ireland and comprises the following members:

Ger Bythell - Chartered Engineer

Niall Fenelon - Chartered Engineer

Stephen Seymour - Chartered Engineer FIEI

John Mitchell - Chartered Engineer

Gerard Monaghan - Chartered Engineer FIEI & Chair

Denise Kennedy – Chartered Engineer

Eamonn Conlon - Solicitor

Niav O Higgins – Solicitor

Mel Casserly – Chartered Engineer

John Lucy – Chartered Engineer

Engineers Ireland maintains panels of Arbitrators, Conciliators, Mediators and Adjudicators. Details of the panel members are available to view via the links below.

Arbitrators

Conciliators

Mediators

Adjudicators

It is the general policy of Engineers Ireland and the Board to make its documentation and services available free of charge. However, if neither party involved in a dispute can agree upon an Arbitrator, Conciliator, Mediator or Adjudicator, then the President of Engineers Ireland can make an appointment which will cost €500.

Similarly, there is a €500 charge for the appointment of an Expert for Expert Determination. Application forms for a Presidential Appointment or for an Expert are available in the relevant sections below. If you would like to apply for a Presidential Appointment or an Expert, please send your completed application form to: registers@engineersireland.ie

Low Value Dispute Procedure

The key objectives of the LVDP are to set out a streamlined adjudication procedure for low value disputes, to help ensure that the Adjudicator's fee is commensurate with the disputed amount, and where desired to offer certainty as to how much the Adjudicator will charge the parties for making an Adjudicator's Decision. Engineers Ireland participates in the LVDP process.

As one of the overriding aims of the LVDP is to reduce costs in adjudicating low value disputes, all designated organisations have agreed a uniform fee for nominating an adjudicator in the amount €250 plus VAT. For more information, please click on the buttons below.

Becoming an Engineers Ireland Arbitrator, Conciliator, Mediator or Adjudicator

The criteria for admission to each Panel and the application forms are available in the relevant sections below.

Each January Panel members must submit an Annual Return for the previous calendar year, giving details of work carried out in dispute resolution processes, whether acting as Arbitrator/Conciliator/Mediator/Adjudicator, as party representative, or in any other capacity. Similarly, Panel members are required to notify the Board on an annual basis of any relevant training undertaken by them.

Panel members are required to pay an annual fee to the running and maintenance of the Panels of which they are members:

Membership of 1 Panel - €200
Membership of 2 Panels - €300
Membership of 3 Panels - €400
Membership of 4 Panels - €500

There are four application deadlines for those interested in joining one of Engineers Ireland’s dispute resolution panels. Please submit your completed application form to: registers@engineersireland.ie

31^st March
30^th June
30^th September
31^st December

Pupillage

In an effort to facilitate the growth of expertise in dispute resolution through a mentoring approach, a pupillage scheme has been developed. The purpose of this scheme is to facilitate interested parties in gaining opportunities to observe and learn from working practitioners. This Procedure has been developed for use with the Engineers Ireland panels of arbitrators, conciliators mediators and adjudicators, whose members are actively encouraged to take on and mentor suitable candidates as the opportunity presents itself. The Pupillage Procedure may be used by third-party neutrals who are not members of the Engineers Ireland panels, and also by other institutions engaged in the dispute resolution area.

Arbitration

Panels and Appointments

Engineers Ireland maintains a Panel of Arbitrators whose details are available here. If the parties to a dispute are unable to agree on an Arbitrator the President of Engineers Ireland will appoint a suitable Arbitrator, normally from this Panel, on receipt of a suitable application and associated fee.

The Presidential Appointment Application Form, the Eligibility Criteria for joining the Engineers Ireland Panel of Arbitrators, the Application Form for Inclusion on the Engineers Ireland Panel of Arbitrators and other useful documentation in relation to Arbitration are available below.

Procedure Documents

Associated documents

Conciliation

Panels and Appointments

Engineers Ireland maintains a Panel of Conciliators whose details are available here. If the parties to a dispute are unable to agree on a Conciliator the President of Engineers Ireland will appoint a suitable Conciliator, normally from this Panel, on receipt of a suitable application and associated fee.

The Presidential Appointment Application Form, the Eligibility Criteria for joining the Engineers Ireland Panel of Conciliators, the Application Form for Inclusion on the Engineers Ireland Panel of Conciliators and other useful documentation in relation to Conciliation are available below

Procedure Documents

Conciliation Procedure 2000 – Associated Documents

Conciliation Procedure 2013 – Associated Documents

Mediation

Panels and Appointments

Engineers Ireland maintains a Panel of Mediators whose details are available here. If the parties to a dispute are unable to agree on a Mediator the President of Engineers Ireland will appoint a suitable Mediator, normally from this Panel, on receipt of a suitable application and associated fee.

The Presidential Appointment Application Form, the Eligibility Criteria for joining the Engineers Ireland Panel of Mediators, the Application Form for Inclusion on the Engineers Ireland Panel of Mediators and other useful documentation in relation to Mediation are available below

Procedure Documents

Meditation Procedure 2021

Associated Documents

Adjudication

Panels and Appointments

Engineers Ireland maintains a Panel of Adjudicators whose details are available here. If the parties to a dispute are unable to agree on an Adjudicator the President of Engineers Ireland will appoint a suitable Adjudicator, normally from this Panel, on receipt of a suitable application and associated fee.

The Presidential Appointment Application Form, the Eligibility Criteria for joining the Engineers Ireland Panel of Adjudicators, the Application Form for Inclusion on the Engineers Ireland Panel of Adjudicators and other useful documentation in relation to Adjudication are available below

Associated Documents

Expert Determination

Panels / Appointments

Engineers Ireland does not maintain a Panel of Experts. However, the President of Engineers Ireland is prepared to nominate or appoint suitable persons, as Expert, if requested to do so, from the membership of the Institution which covers all of the engineering disciplines.

Associated documents