Buona sera Signore e Signori, E un grande onore essere invitati a parlare con voi stasera.  E, sono molto felice di fare ancora una visita in questo paese stupendo

Ladies and Gentlemen, good evening. 

My name is Joe Behan, former Chairman of the Irish Branch and Deputy President of the Institute.  The reason I am here tonight is to give you a message.  Italy sent us Trapattoni, to manage our football team, so, I was sent to give you the message that Ireland will now have to knock you out of this year’s world cup.  

This is an early apology from the Irish people. The real message that I want to give to you tonight is about the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, what it is, what it does and what it can do for you.  The Institute was founded in 1915 and operates under Royal Charter. It is a not for profit registered charity working in the public interest. 

It has over eleven thousand members worldwide in 114 countries. It has an international network of branches and chapters with their being 33 branches at the last count. The Institute has Trustees from every region around the world, with the European Trustee, Mr. Roy Sherlock, being here with us tonight. Our vision is to be a world leader in the promotion and education of professionals involved with Arbitration, Mediation and other forms of Dispute Resolution outside the Courts. 

The objective of our Institute is to promote and facilitate the determination of disputes by Arbitration and alternative means of dispute resolution other than resolution by the Court. 

What makes us unique as an Institute is that we have members from all types of backgrounds.  Such as, accountants, actuaries’, barristers’, solicitors, engineers, architects, quantity surveyors, psychotherapists, archaeologists, estate agents and so on. We have a range of experts from different backgrounds and professions, who have a globally recognised and assured level of training and experience. Our members aspire to obtain the highest level of qualifications that the Chartered Institute can provide. 

So, what do we do?We educate and train people in Arbitration, Mediation, Conciliation and Adjudication. 

We operate across all business and commercial sectors and have within the Institute a division called IDRS, which administers the resolution of business and consumer disputes in a cost effective and timely way.  It also nominates for Ad-hoc Arbitrations, Mediations etc. Our members provide professional expertise as Mediators, Conciliators, Adjudicators and Arbitrators. 

The Chartered Institute offers a whole range of resources including support, advice, networking and promotional opportunities as well as having facilities in central London, for those who may need the, to host hearings and meetings. 

My country is Ireland. Ireland the Island, is divided into two separate legal jurisdictions. 

There is the Republic of Ireland, where I live and Northern Ireland which is part of the United Kingdom.  We both operate under Common Law but under different Arbitration Acts. Our Branch in Ireland is a very vibrant Branch with over 750 members, for what is a population of the Island of just over 5 million. 

Given the separate jurisdictions, we decided to form a Chapter in Northern Ireland to cater for the needs of our members there.  

In a similar way, the European Branch could be considered to be a rather larger Irish Branch, in terms of its geography as opposed to its members.  But, with people from different jurisdictions all under the same umbrella.  The question really is, should each country in Europe have a Chapter?

There are already two Chapters in Europe.  This however, is not a question for me to answer. The important issue for me is the enlargement of the Institute and the maintenance of the impetus within the Institute, which comes primarily through the work of the Branches and the Chapters. 

So far I have told you what the Institute is and what it does.  The question is, what can it do for you?

Well, the Institute provides excellent education and training programmes for Arbitrators, Mediators and Adjudicators in the United Kingdom.  Maintains a register of Arbitrators, a panel of Arbitrators and a register of expert witnesses. 

It also maintains a panel of Mediators, of which I am a member and it appoints and nominates suitably qualified persons to act as Arbitrators, Mediators, adjudicators and expert witnesses. 

So, how do you become a member? The simplest way to become a member is to attend one of our Introduction Courses.  This gives you Associate Membership.  To become a Full Member and Fellow, it is possible to go on either one of the two strands.    We have Membership and Fellowship through the Arbitration route and Membership and Fellowship through the Mediation route. There is however only one grade for Charter and that is Chartered Arbitrator.  

And so, to conclude, for those of you who are members of the Institute, perhaps some of what I have said may not have been well known to you.  To those who are not members of the Chartered Institute, hopefully this will give you an opportunity to consider joining the leading worldwide organisation in Alternative and Dispute Resolution. 

Finally, I would like to congratulate the European Branch and in particular it’s Chairman, Axel Reigg, who I met with in Malaysia last year, on the conference.   I would also like to wish the Branch every success in the future. 

In addition, I would like to particularly thank Giovanni, for inviting me to tonight’s dinner.  On that note, I hope that you enjoy the rest of the evening.