The government has no plans to introduce legislation to force Portmarnock Golf Club in Dublin to accept female members, following last week’s Supreme Court ruling which upheld its right to restrict membership to men.

The court dismissed an appeal by the Equality Authority, which claimed that Portmarnock discriminated against women by refusing to allow them to become full members.

The cost of the court case is likely to exceed €350,000, over one tenth of the Equality Authority’s annual budget. The Department of Justice cut its budget by 39% this year and may reduce it further in 2010.

The authority was advised by departmental officials not to pursue Portmarnock after the High Court ruled in 2005 that it had not engaged in discrimination because its principal purpose was to cater for the needs of one gender, an exemption allowed under equality laws.

The authority discussed the High Court judgment with senior officials in the justice department and asked if they would cover the costs of an appeal. According to official sources, the request was declined.

The Equality Authority did not respond to questions from The Sunday Times last week, but a statement on its website welcomed the ruling. “While [it] is not as we would have wished, it is a matter for the Oireachtas to consider whether it should amend the Equal Status Act now the Supreme Court has clarified how this act be interpreted,” it read.

The authority made no reference to judicial criticisms of its appeal.

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