THE EQUALITY Authority may be unable to carry out its core functions of promoting equality and combating discrimination as a result of the Government's decision to cut its funding, the organisation's board said yesterday.
It said the impact of a 43 per cent cut in funding could severely curtail its work of providing legal support to people experiencing discrimination, conducting inquiries and raising public awareness of equality.
"The Equality Authority has concluded that Budget 2009, if fully implemented, may render the Equality Authority unable to fully or effectively carry out the full range of its core functions under the equality legislation and relevant EU directives," the board said in a statement yesterday.
It pointed out that its budget was reduced from just under €6 million to €3.3 million, a cut of 43 per cent.
This was disproportionate to the cutbacks imposed on other State bodies, said the board of the Equality Authority.
It also recalled that it was required to decentralise a further 15 posts to Roscrea.
The board is now seeking a meeting with Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern to find a resolution which would enable the authority to fulfil its core functions.
Separately, the Impact trade union - which represents specialist staff in the authority - said the organisation was being singled out because it has been an irritant to Government departments and other public service bodies.
"Around half the cases brought under the Equal Status Act have concerned State bodies in recent years," said Impact national secretary Paddy Keating.
"The Government is effectively issuing irresponsible or careless employers and service providers with a licence to discriminate," he said.
Mr Keating said the "savage cuts" in equality services would yield relatively little in terms of Government savings, but the implications for those who rely on its services were huge.
The Equality Authority board said yesterday it recognised that the current economic downturn meant there were reduced finances available to the public sector.
However, it said it must be recognised that its functions to promote equality and to combat discrimination were "particularly important at a time of economic downturn for people experiencing inequality, as it is these groups who are most vulnerable in such a period".
The board of the Equality Authority also noted "the valuable commitment made by the Minister of Justice to ensuring that agencies under his remit could continue to carry out their core functions".
With this in mind, it said it was writing to the Minister seeking an urgent meeting to brief him on the situation that now faces it.
"It is hoped to find a resolution to this situation that enables the Equality Authority to fulfil its core functions," it concluded.