The ICU acknowledges that from time to time disputes arise between chess players and other chess players or Chess bodies. The ICU executive is the ultimate point of resolution for disputes within the Irish Chess playing community.

The ICU will attempt to arbitrate such disputes as fairly and unbiased as possible, with the possibility of an appeals process. This implies that a sub-committee must be appointed to hear the arguments and then present it’s’ recommendations to the ICU executive.

Speedy resolutions are not guaranteed and the ICU should be the last port of call for any dispute. In fact, satisfactory resolutions may not be possible in some cases.

The ICU executive, or an assigned sub-committee, must:-
• (a) Hear both parties’ arguments, and ask any necessary questions. Both parties are entitled to hear the others case.
• (b) Discuss the dispute among themselves
• (c) Hold a secret ballot on the outcome. A 2/3 vote, minimum, is required.
• ...In the case of (b) and (c), neither disputing party can be present.

Before the ICU will get involved in any dispute, the following criteria must be met:-
• (1) If the dispute falls within a provincial chess union’s geographical area, it must first have been considered by that chess province’s union.
• (2) When one of the disputing parties refuses to get involved in trying to resolve the dispute, the other party must show at least 3 attempts, spaced at least 5 weeks apart to allow for a reply, in trying to contact the other party.
• (3) If the dispute is time sensitive, the ICU executive may take on the arbitration immediately and arbitrate itself, provided at least two thirds of the eligible voting members decide to do so.
• (4) The dispute must not have gone to Law. i.e. sending of legal letters, court appearances, etc, must not have occurred.

Once the ICU executive decides to take on the dispute, a sub-committee of three unbiased individuals must be appointed to consider the case and make its proposal to the ICU. None of the individuals may be related to the disputing parties in any way.

If the Executive cannot find three individuals within three months after reasonable efforts to do so, it may decide to arbitrate itself, or decline the case.

The sub-committee must conclude within three months and make its recommendations to the ICU executive. The ICU may then implement or decline the suggestions. If the sub-committee cannot conclude on the case, a second and final sub-committee may be appointed at the ICU executive’s discretion.

Appeals: one or both parties may appeal the decision, within four weeks, and make its case to the ICU executive. If two thirds of the executive decide, by secret ballot, that the party has a case, then a new, second, sub-committee will be appointed. No more appeals will be considered after that, and the ICU executives’ decision will be binding within the limitations of the Irish Chess Community.