Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)

The book is Warrenpoint Golf Club, A History 1893-1993 by Tom McAteer.

Golf is a fine sport and Ireland is an ideal country for it. It has become a major part of our tourism industry. It is most regrettable that the Golfing Union of Ireland has been so backward in terms of gender equality and that there are still one or two clubs, unfortunately the most prestigious clubs, exercising what can only be described as gender apartheid. There was no justification at any stage for this type of rule, but given the social changes that have occurred – after all, there are nearly as many professional women as there are professional men – any purported rationale for the type of thinking that allowed people to become associate members only and to play only during off-peak times is long gone.