Following a political career often based on conflict, Northern Ireland's First Minister, the Rev Ian Paisley, is to speak in Dublin next month on the merits of arbitration and agreement.
On the invitation of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Dr Paisley will make a rare visit to the Republic to address an international conference on dispute management.
Northern Ireland politicians, such as Dr Paisley, and arbitrators who intervene to broker compromises in commercial disputes have much in common, said the institute's chairman, Joe Behan.
Dr Paisley's experience "gives him great insight into the conduct of negotiation and arbitration in difficult circumstances", the chartered institute said.
"Just as dispute resolution in Northern Ireland has resulted in a better society, in the commercial world professional dispute resolution has brought a better and more efficient business atmosphere and has often also helped preserve working relationships," said Mr Behan.
"We will find it fascinating to hear from someone whose election to the post of First Minister is due to the resolution of what was once seen as an intractable dispute."
The institute, which has more than 700 lawyers, engineers, architects, accountants and doctors affiliated to it, nominates experts to help settle all of sorts of commercial disputes.
The use of arbitrators is becoming so prevalent that it is now common practice in commercial contracts for both sides to agree in advance to use them if disputes emerge.
A new form of contract has been introduced for public works in the Republic and, because of its novelty, it is certain to throw up "significant matters" for arbitrators, said Mr Behan.
