Equality Boss Resigns Over Funding 'Victimisation'

Ireland's Equality Authority Chief Executive Niall Crowley has resigned, alleging the authority had been 'officially victimised' for helping to tackle discrimination, particularly in the public sector.

Specifically, he is reported to have cited funding cuts at the organisation as part of his reasons for leaving the high profile job.

He said the authority had become unviable because of the extensive budget cuts and the planned decentralisation of staff.

The Equality Authority was set up to combat discrimination and promote equal treatment in employment.

In a letter sent to the Chair of the Board, Angela Keirns and the Justice Minister Dermot Ahern, Niall Crowley said his position had become untenable because of the 43% budget cut.

In his letter of resignation, he accused Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern of effectively killing off the State-sponsored body with such a cut and ongoing decentralisation.

Mr Crowley said that the final straw was Minister Ahern's rejection on Wednesday of what he calls their board's 'very limited proposals for viability'.

These involved a delay in the Minister's staff decentralisation programme and a 32% funding cut to allow the Authority operate at the most minimal level.

Mr Crowley dismisses as not credible Mr Ahern's explanation that the 43% savings are to help combat crime.

He says some other non crime-fighting bodies under Mr Ahern's wing lost only between 1% and 9% in the budget.

He says the only credible explanation for the Authority being victimised appears to be that senior civil servants and/or the Government felt threatened by its support for people alleging discrimination particularly in the public service.

(BMcC)