Déirdre de Búrca (Green Party)

I wish to express my disappointment at the ruling by the Supreme Court on Portmarnock Golf Club's prohibition on women becoming full members. While I respect the right of that court to decide the law as it sees fit, it is disappointing in the 21st century that a golf club should be designated gentlemen only. The Supreme Court ruled that the club is entitled to an exemption under section 9 of the Equal Status Act 2000, which provides that a club established to meet the particular needs of one sex can discriminate on the grounds of gender. However, the need to play golf is not unique to males.