The Equality Authority is taking Portmarnock Golf Club in Co Dublin to court for its policy of excluding women members, writes Nuala Haughey, Social and Racial Affairs Correspondent.
Portmarnock is due to host the €2 million Nissan Irish Open, one of the Europe's most important golf tournaments, from July 24th to 27th. Bord Fáilte is providing €250,000 in sponsorship.
In what amounts to a test case, the authority will ask the District Court to declare the all-male club in breach of the Equal Status Act, which outlaws discrimination in the provision of goods and services. If the case succeeds, the club could lose its licence to sell alcohol for 30 days. The authority yesterday notified the club of its intention to bring it to court.
A spokesman for the club said it had been advised it is not contravening the Act. It has also emerged the club yesterday initiated proceedings in the High Court seeking to "establish precisely its position" in relation to the Act.
The Equality Authority's action is being taken under a section of the Act which has not been contested in the courts before. This provides that a club shall not be considered to be discriminating where "its principal purpose is to cater only for the needs of a particular gender by reason only of it refusing membership to persons not of that gender".
The authority's chief executive, Mr Niall Crowley, said it was taking the proceedings as exclusion of women from golf club membership was "inevitably part of a wider context of gender inequality in society."
He said that while women were permitted to play golf in the club and could take jobs there, the fact that they could not be members meant they were "denied any decision-making role in the club". The policy also denied them access to benefits that flowed from membership, including social and economic benefits.