The National Women's Council of Ireland has decided against staging a protest at next week's Nissan Irish Open over the men-only membership policy of its host venue, Portmarnock Golf Club.
However, the women's group said it continues to oppose State funds being used for the event, and "fully supports" the Equality Authority's case against the club, due for a secondary hearing before the Dublin District Court next Wednesday.
Council chairwoman Ms Mary Kelly said it had agreed at a meeting yesterday not to go ahead with a demonstration "because the matter is under consideration by the courts".
"If the outcome of that case had been decided we would have taken a different decision." The Equality Authority has alleged that Portmarnock's ban on women membership makes it a "discriminating club" under Section 8 of the Equal Status Act, 2000. If the District Court finds against the club it will be refused a licence to sell alcohol for 30 days, with the threat of an indefinite alcohol ban unless it changes its policy.
The court is to set a date for the hearing just a day before the four-day Open event begins.
In a separate move, the club last month initiated proceedings in the High Court seeking to "establish precisely its position" in relation to the Act.
Ms Kelly said: "We very much approve of the case being taken by the Equality Authority." In a reference to Bord Failte's €250,000 part-sponsorship of the event, she said the council was disturbed at the "discontinuity in public policy" over gender equality. "It may not be appropriate to be calling for public boycotts. But we do think it's inappropriate to use public funds in this instance."
At last April's Augusta Masters in the US, there were protests outside the men-only club during the event.
