Skip to Content

Alternative Dispute Resolution for businesses 

List of Alternative Dispute Resolution entities

The listed entities in Ireland are:

A full list of ADR entities communicated to the European Commission across Europe is available on Europa.eu. 

How can Alternative Dispute Resolution businesses to resolve a dispute?

The CCPC plays a key role in the administration of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), which aims to resolve disputes between consumers and traders out of court. ADR includes mediation, arbitration, and conciliation, and involves an independent third party helping both sides reach a resolution. This page explains what ADR is, the relevant legislation, how a dispute resolution entity established in Ireland can become a listed ADR entity, trader obligations, and where to find ADR entities.

What is Alternative Dispute Resolution?

ADR refers to a range of processes designed to resolve disputes without going to court. These processes include mediation, arbitration, and conciliation. ADR uses an independent third party to assist consumers and traders in reaching an agreement on their dispute.

ADR is intended to provide a quicker, less formal, and often less costly alternative to court proceedings. It can be used for both domestic and cross-border disputes, and for issues arising from online or offline sales and service contracts.

What is the ADR legislation?

The “ADR Regulations” are the European Union (Alternative Dispute Resolution for Consumer Disputes) Regulations 2015 (S.I. No. 343), as amended by S.I. No. 368 of 2015 and S.I. No. 29 of 2025.  The ADR Regulations aim to make high-quality and independent ADR processes available to consumers. These apply to both domestic and cross-border disputes and cover online and offline sales and service contracts.

The ADR Regulations set out:

  • The requirements a dispute resolution entity established in Ireland must meet to be listed as an ADR entity
  • The information traders must provide to consumers

The CCPC assesses notifications from dispute resolution entities wishing to be listed as an ADR entity under the ADR Regulations.

It is voluntary for dispute resolution entities to be listed under the ADR Regulations and for traders to use these ADR entities. However, traders who commit to using ADR, or are legally obliged to do so, must provide consumers with certain information, such as the name and website address of the ADR entity or entities which cover that trader’s sector.

How can a dispute resolution entity become a listed ADR entity under the Regulations?

A dispute resolution entity established in Ireland that wishes to become an ADR entity must notify the CCPC using this notification form.

The CCPC will assess whether the entity:

(a) Qualifies as an ADR entity under the ADR Regulations

(b) Meets the quality requirements of the ADR Regulations

The CCPC maintains a public list of ADR entities that have been notified and meet the requirements. The list is available on this page. There is also a list of all approved ADR entities across the EU.

What are the obligations for traders?

The ADR Regulations create obligations for traders who commit to using, or are legally required to use, an ADR entity to resolve disputes with consumers.

These traders are obliged to provide consumers with the name and website of the relevant ADR entity in the following ways:

  • On the trader’s website (where one exists)
  • In the general terms and conditions of sales or services contracts

In addition, if a consumer has submitted a complaint directly to any trader which cannot be settled, the trader is obliged to provide the consumer, in writing, with the following information:

  • The name and website of an ADR entity which covers that trader’s sector
  • Confirmation of whether the trader is prepared to use that ADR entity to settle the dispute

A trader who fails to comply with these requirements can face a fine of €5,000, or imprisonment of up to 12 months, or both.

Advice for traders

Even if ADR is voluntary, providing clear information to consumers about ADR options can help maintain consumer trust and avoid escalation to legal proceedings.

How to contact the CCPC about ADR

If you have a query on ADR, you can contact us:

  • By email: adr@ccpc.ie
  • By phone: +353 1 402 5500
  • In writing to: ADR Team, CCPC, Bloom House, PO Box 12585, Railway Street, Dublin 1, D01 C576

ADR development and functioning reports

In accordance with Article 20(6) of Directive 2013/11/EU on ADR and Regulation 5(7) and (8) of the ADR Regulations, the CCPC publishes and sends to the European Commission a report on the development and functioning of ADR entities listed in Ireland every four years. See details below:

Sign up for the latest news from CCPC