Seanad debates

Thursday, 5 December 2002

National Tourism Development Authority Bill, 2002: Report and Final Stages.

 

John Dardis (Progressive Democrats)

What Senator Henry said was correct, but the question is whether the amendment would deal with the issue. I have always held the view that it is wrong for golf clubs to exclude women. Women can play at Portmarnock Golf Club but cannot become members. My wife is a member of a golf club, of which I am an associate member. I cannot imagine the gentlemen at Portmarnock Golf Club allowing that to happen. Certainly, if they thought it might happen, they might collapse into their gin and tonics over lunch, the consequences of which would be quite catastrophic.

I would think, as a former Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Minister is competent to answer this question, but I am not at all sure whether single sex clubs are excluded under the Equal Status Act. In other words, is it impossible to have a single sex club under the Equal Status Act? The other point I would make is that in last Saturday's edition of The New York Times, the only story on the sports pages which was not about American sport was about Portmarnock Golf Club, the Ryder Cup and the fact that it was a single gender club. The newspaper was implicitly critical of the whole issue. There was also a statement to the effect that the club was confident it was not in breach of the Act.

Debate adjourned.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.