Crowley hints at equality position

THE Equality Authority’s former chief, Niall Crowley, has hinted at his desire to continue working with the hard-pressed organisation, despite confusion surrounding a pledge by the Government to reverse sweeping cuts to its funds.

There were calls for clarity last night, after weekend claims by cabinet minister John Gormley that damaging cuts to the authority are to be reversed. The Green Party leader told his party conference that changes which had caused the resignation of Mr Crowley had caused “deep concern” among party members.

He had “succeeded in our mission” of reversing changes, he told delegates in Wexford, by stopping the authority’s decentralisation and arranging a review of its funding.

The Department of Justice said yesterday, however, that no major reversal in the 43% in funding cuts for the authority had been agreed. It had been agreed to put on hold the decentralisation of a small number of authority staff, up to six, from Dublin to its Roscrea offices, the spokesman said.

The Equality Authority also said it “was unaware of any changes” following Mr Gormley’s weekend pledge.

Mr Gormley’s spokesman said the review of the authority’s funding was to be carried out by An Bord Snip Nua, the Government-appointed body charged with cutting public spending. It is not due to report until July.

“It is a reversal,” the spokesman said. “Decentralisation has been halted. The cutbacks will also not be such that they will render it inoperable.”

The authority’s former chief executive, Niall Crowley, said questions remained as to whether the Green Party leader’s political initiative would be implemented.

The cuts had rendered the authority “non-viable”, Mr Crowley told RTÉ radio.

“The key test of this new political initiative is whether or not it will restore viability, whether or not it will bring back funding.”

Mr Crowley did not commit to returning to the authority but hinted at contributing to its work.

“I’m very keen personally to build on my work there and to continue (being) involved in that service. It’s very early to say how I will do that or where I will do that.”

Fine Gael have also called on Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern to clarify whether or not funding will be restored to the authority.