Madam, – The resignation of Niall Crowley as a result of the brutal cutbacks dictated to the Equality Authority by Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern and his senior staff has been followed by not one, not two but FIVE resignations of the authority's board.
While our country is used to CEOs resigning due to scandal, all six of these principled resignations have been in protest at Mr Ahern's behaviour.
Surely this is a clear sign that yet another mistake has been made by the Government, one which must now be rectified. – Yours, etc,
LINDA KELLY,
Equality Officer,
Union of Students in Ireland,
Crumlin,
Dublin 12.
Madam, – Congratulations to
The Irish Timesfor pursuing the disgraceful treatment of the Equality Authority which led to Niall Crowley's resignation.
Carol Coulter's excellent coverage at the time has now been followed by Kathy Sheridan's excellent interview with Mr Crowley (January 17th), affording him the opportunity to correct some of Dermot Ahern's wilder assertions, such as the €100,000 for consultancy – spent on helping employers actually implement equality measures --and the completely fictional €220,000 for PR services.
Publication as politicians prepared to celebrate the Democratic Programme of the First Dáil, with its commitment to the principles of liberty, equality and justice, could not have been more timely. Pat Rabbitte in the Dáil and David Norris in the Seanad did their best to force the Minister to explain the Equality Authority budget cut of 43 per cent and got bluster and abuse for their efforts.
Neither has the Minister explained why he rejected an alternative proposal for a 32 per cent cut – still far more than any other cuts imposed by the Minister.
He no doubt feels confident that in these chaotic times the whole nasty episode will be forgotten, and Niall Crowley with it.
I feel confident
The Irish Timeswon't let that happen. What about the Saturday Interview soon with Mr Ahern? – Yours, etc,
MARY MAHER,
Ranelagh,
Dublin 6.