Niall Crowley's Resignation Letter

[David Cochrane]

As broken first by corelli here on Politics.ie yesterday, Niall Crowley has resigned as Chief Executive of the Equality Authority. Exclusively is his resignation letter below.

Ms. Angela Kerins

Chairperson
Equality Authority
2 Clonmel Street
Dublin 2

11th December 2008

Dear Angela

It is with deep regret that I am writing to tender my resignation as Chief Executive Officer of the Equality Authority. I have been forced into this action by the manner in which I believe the Equality Authority has been rendered unviable by the decision of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to cut its funding by 43% and to continue decentralisation of its staff. My position as Chief Executive Officer has become untenable as a result.

It has been a privilege to work for the past ten years in the Equality Authority. I have appreciated the opportunity to be part of an organisation that has been able to respond so effectively to a broad range of people who find their participation, progress and well being diminished by discrimination. It has been inspiring to play a role in an organisation that has been so committed to and expert in developing a support infrastructure for policy makers, employers and service providers to better promote equality, value diversity and combat discrimination.

The work of the Equality Authority has been fatally compromised by the strategy of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform in the Government's budget. Staff turnover, due to continued decentralisation where the current Equality Authority staff are not in a position to move to Roscrea; staff reduction of the scale required to meet the reduced pay budget now being made available to the Equality Authority; and the limited financial resources to fund the developmental, legal and information work of the Equality Authority mean that the Equality Authority cannot operate to even a minimal level. The loss of staff expertise and skills consequent to the foregoing further undermines the ability of the Equality Authority to operate to necessary standards in carrying out its work.

The rationale given by Minister Dermot Ahern T.D. for the Department's strategy is simply not credible. It is not credible to explain the 43% cutback in funding for the Equality Authority on the basis that the Minister seeks to prioritise combating crime. The budget cutback of the Equality Authority stands in stark contrast to that of organisations such as the National Disability Authority (a 2% cutback), the Legal Aid Board (a 1% cutback), or the Data Protection Commissioner (a 9% cutback) none of which play a role in combating crime. It further strains credulity when the Minister suggests that this cutback can be offset by reduced rental costs for the Equality Authority - a possible €200,000 saving on rental does not resolve the cutback of nearly €2,500,000 being made to the overall funding of the Equality Authority.

The only credible explanation I can see for what has been done to the Equality Authority appears to be that the casework strategy implemented by it, particularly in relation to allegations of discrimination in the public sector, has been experienced as a threat by senior civil servants and/or Government. It would further appear that the independent voice of the Equality Authority has had to be silenced for becoming an awkward witness to the inequality and discrimination in our society. The Equality Authority is being victimised for doing well what it was established to do.

It is required under European Union Equal Treatment Directives that Member States establish a specialised equality body to provide independent assistance to victims of discrimination, to conduct independent surveys of discrimination, and to publish independent reports relating to discrimination. The Equality Authority has been acknowledged across the European Union as an exemplary model in this regard. Ireland is now in danger of moving from being a European leader in this area to being in breach of the Equal Treatment Directives for lack of a specialised equality body that is able to effectively and independently carry out these functions.

At yesterday's meeting the refusal by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to countenance the very limited proposals for viability put forward by the Board of the Equality Authority was most disappointing. The Equality Authority merely sought flexibility to delay the staff decentralisation now required and sought further funds of €700,000 which would have meant accepting a 32% cut in funding. This would have enabled the Equality Authority to operate at the most minimal level.

This response by the Minister was the final factor in reaching my decision. I cannot stand by and pretend that the Equality Authority is viable in these circumstances. I hope that my resignation might encourage a review of what is being done to the Equality Authority so that this important institution can be retained in a viable format and can continue to make an effective and independent contribution to a better and more equal Ireland.

Yours sincerely

_______________________

Niall Crowley
Chief Executive Officer
Equality Authority

cc. Dermot Ahern, T.D., Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

[corelli]

Thanks Dave!

[He3]

Government policy.

No body which stands up for people's rights will be tolerated.

Not complicated.

[adamirer]

The decentralisation bit is bang on the money. Just that no senior figure can say that while employed as its government policy. To say, as Ahern did, that they'sign up' for it, is ludicrous. it was imposed.

[Christine Murray]

Decentralisation was Charlie Mc Greevy's Parting Gift to the Fianna Fail Party.
It distracted discussions from the Budget of that year, whilst FG did slumber
in the Chamber. and still no political capital made on the issues of concern
in this years budget- thus FF/PD/Green Budgets = The Gifts that Keep on
Giving.

[TradCat]

I don't see a public outcry over this. For most of us spending money on studying the Late Late Toy Show for gender stereotyping is not the kind of thing we should be funding in good times never mind a recession.


"LATE LATE SHOW host Pat Kenny has fallen foul of equality watchdogs for stereotyping children during the programme’s annual toy show.

Researchers who studied the hugely popular pre-Christmas programme — watched by more than 1.3 million viewers — said Mr Kenny’s comments about certain toys helped drive a wedge between boys and girls and served to “undermine the objective of promoting gender equality”.

“The main presenter persistently reinforced stereotypes of gender in his short introductions and comments on the products shown,” the researchers said.

“For instance, when looking at a particular children’s product, in which a human skull is shown to ooze slime, the presenter exclaimed, ‘Made for boys, I think’. This contrasted with his assertion that a dancing ballerina was ‘going to be a big hit for girls’. "

Irish Examiner - 2007/11/02: Toy show rapped for ‘gender stereotypes’

[corelli]

I don't see a public outcry over this. For most of us spending money on studying the Late Late Toy Show for gender stereotyping is not the kind of thing we should be funding in good times never mind a recession.


"LATE LATE SHOW host Pat Kenny has fallen foul of equality watchdogs for stereotyping children during the programme’s annual toy show.

Researchers who studied the hugely popular pre-Christmas programme — watched by more than 1.3 million viewers — said Mr Kenny’s comments about certain toys helped drive a wedge between boys and girls and served to “undermine the objective of promoting gender equality”.

“The main presenter persistently reinforced stereotypes of gender in his short introductions and comments on the products shown,” the researchers said.

“For instance, when looking at a particular children’s product, in which a human skull is shown to ooze slime, the presenter exclaimed, ‘Made for boys, I think’. This contrasted with his assertion that a dancing ballerina was ‘going to be a big hit for girls’. "

Irish Examiner - 2007/11/02: Toy show rapped for ‘gender stereotypes’

If you have a problem with what the Equality Authority do talk to the Government and the EU. They wrote the legislation. We are obliged to have an Authority under EU law.

[TradCat]

If you have a problem with what the Equality Authority do talk to the Government and the EU. They wrote the legislation. We are obliged to have an Authority under EU law.

I'm still entitled to an opinion on it as far as I know. We were obliged to have Gov. general under the treaty. It didn't mean we had to take it seriously. The ideological grand-standing alienated the public so when the government came cutting most people were delighted. That is a lesson for quangos. Don't p1$$ off the people who pay your wages.

[corelli]

I'm still entitled to an opinion on it as far as I know. We were obliged to have Gov. general under the treaty. It didn't mean we had to take it seriously. The ideological grand-standing alienated the public so when the government came cutting most people were delighted. That is a lesson for quangos. Don't p1$$ off the people who pay your wages.

They did not piss off the public. The greater public are not conscious of them.

The people who are conscious and are now at greater risk are those who face discrimination. The blind, the disabled, transgendered, those of senior years etc.

A great government. In times of recession shaft the organization who look after the already vulnerable.

[Schuhart]

It is not credible to explain the 43% cutback in funding for the Equality Authority on the basis that the Minister seeks to prioritise combating crime. The budget cutback of the Equality Authority stands in stark contrast to that of organisations such as the National Disability Authority (a 2% cutback), the Legal Aid Board (a 1% cutback), or the Data Protection Commissioner (a 9% cutback) none of which play a role in combating crime.

Surely this argument that Crowley makes is pathetic. Fine, lets cut the NDA back by 40%, if it has no front line services (I know nothing about what the NDA does, so I'm totally open to information on this score). Also, is Crowley really suggesting that a 43% cut to the Legal Aid budget would not be far more significant in restricting access to justice than reducing the budget for Equality Grandstanding?

Are people really taken in by this vacuous statement? Put it up to the man. 20% of our tax revenue has vanished in the course of a year. Who should be cut to give him the resources he wants? Does he want us to cut the NDA instead? Or, like his quango, does he want to just grandstand on issues while floating above the consequences.

Clearly, stopping decentralisation would be an immediate cost saving. That should be done in any event. Yet, he seems to want €700,000 on top of that. Where does Crowley think his money should come from? Is anyone going to ask him that? Who should suffer to keep his former quango in the condition he wants to see it in?