Government action ‘dismantles’ equality safeguards

THE former head of the Equality Authority who resigned in protest at cuts in the organisation’s budget has said the country is in an “equality crisis“.

Niall Crowley said the Government was “dismantling” equality safeguards by scrapping independent human rights agencies and gagging lobby groups by starving them of funds.

Mr Crowley, who left his post last December after 10 years as chief executive, said the recession was being used as an excuse to undermine equality groups. “It’s serving as a cover to dismantle the gains made in achieving equality over the last few years. We need to recognise that we have an equality crisis that accompanies the economic crisis,” he said.