Portmarnock Golf Club judgment due on landmark equal status case

Judgment is due today in what is regarded as a landmark equal status case taken by the Equality Authority against Portmarnock Golf Club for its ban on women members.

The Equality Authority took the case to the Dublin District Court last November on the basis that the club's men-only membership policy was discriminatory under the terms of the Equal Status Act 2000.

Portmarnock maintained the club was private and had the power of exclusion, and was not contravening the Act.

If Judge Mary Collins finds the club has breached the act it could lose its certificate of registration for 30 days which would prevent it from selling alcohol.

Women can play golf at Portmarnock but cannot hold full membership, meaning they are excluded from the committee or any executive role.

There are also restrictions on the times when women can play.

The club captain, Mr Bruce Mitchell, previously told the court that, since the introduction of the Act, the club had, on three occasions, discussed allowing female members, but the response had "overwhelmingly" been opposed to any change in the rules.

The Authority has said that the privacy of Portmarnock is not interfered with by the Act.

The club still retains the power of exclusion and can still choose who to admit, but the

Act provides that the choice not be made on the grounds of gender.

Judge Collins could decide today to refer the case to the High Court for interpretation if she determines there is an issue over the constitutional rights of Portmarnock Golf Club or a question on the meaning of a section of the Equal Status Act 2000.