International Arbitration Comparative Guide

1 Legal framework

1.1 What is the relevant legislation on arbitration in your jurisdiction? Are there any significant limitations on the scope of the statutory regime – for example, does it govern oral arbitration agreements?

The Arbitration Act 2010 (the "2010 Act") applies to arbitrations in Ireland. It applies to international commercial arbitrations and domestic arbitrations. The 2010 Act came into force on 8 June 2010 and repealed the existing Arbitration Acts 1954-1998. The 2010 Act consolidated the law and adopted the UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration (the "Model Law") in its entirety into Irish law.

The Construction Contracts Act 2013 gives parties to construction contracts the right to refer payment disputes to adjudication. Parties to relevant contracts cannot opt out of the provisions of the Construction Contracts Act 2013.