Gormley hails Equality Authority funding review a victory

THE Green Party last night hailed as a victory the fact that funding for the Equality Authority would be the subject of a new review — when in fact the review could recommend cutting its funding.

Addressing the opening night of the Greens’ national convention in Wexford, party leader John Gormley said he had succeeded in having changes to the authority “reversed”.

The Department of Justice slashed the authority’s budget from €5.9 million in 2008 to €3.3m this year, leading to a row that saw the resignation of the authority’s chief executive, Niall Crowley. The lack of funding and decentralisation of some of its staff from Dublin to Roscrea raised concerns about the authority’s future.