A Co Dublin golf club at the centre of a row over its exclusion of women members has begun High Court proceedings to try and determine that it is not contravening the Equal Status Act.
The move by the all-male Portmarnock Golf Club is in response to legal proceedings in the District Court taken by the Equality Authority over the issue.
In a statement issued today, the club said it had been advised that its rules do not contravene the terms of the Equal Status Act 2000, and it is going to the High Court to establish precisely its position in relation to the Act.
The club said it believed the High Court to be the appropriate forum to determine whether clubs fall within the Act in relation to freedom of association and looks forward to the Court's decision on the matter.
Women are allowed play golf on the links course but cannot take jobs there or become members - which, according to the Equality Authority, denies them a decision-making role in the club.
The timing of such proceedings is far from ideal as the club prepares to host the high profile €2 million Nissan Irish Open next month from July 24th to 27th.
Following a break of 12 years, the Irish Open will return to the links venue, which staged the event 12 times between 1976 and 1990.