Arbitration Act, 1954

Commencement of arbitration.

3.—(1) For the purposes of this Act and for the purpose of the statutes of limitation as applying to arbitrations and of section 496 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894 , as amended by section 46 of this Act, an arbitration shall be deemed to be commenced when one party to the arbitration agreement serves on the other party or parties a written notice requiring him or them to appoint or concur in appointing an arbitrator or, where the arbitration agreement provides that the reference shall be to a person named or designated in the agreement, requiring him or them to submit the dispute to the person so named or designated.

(2) (a) A notice under subsection (1) of this section may be served—

(i) by delivering it to the person to whom it is to be served,

(ii) by leaving it at the place in the State at which that person ordinarily resides or carries on business,

(iii) by sending it by registered post in an envelope addressed to that person at the place in the State at which he ordinarily resides or carries on business,

(iv) in any other manner provided in the arbitration agreement.

(b) For the purposes of this subsection, a company registered under the Companies Acts, 1908 to 1924, shall be deemed to carry on business at its registered office in the State and every other body corporate and every unincorporated body shall be deemed to carry on business at its principal office or place of business in the State.