Equality Authority Chief Executive Niall Crowley has resigned, alleging the authority had been officially victimised for helping to tackle discrimination, particularly in the public sector.
In his letter of resignation, he accused Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern of effectively killing off the State-sponsored body with a 43% funding cut and ongoing decentralisation.
But Mr Ahern's spokesman responded that he had implemented across-the-board cuts to devote more money to combating crime.
In the letter, Mr Crowley tells Authority Chairperson Angela Kerins that the straw that broke the camel's back was Minister Ahern's rejection on Wednesday of what he calls their board's ‘very limited proposals for viability’.
These involved a delay in the Minister's staff decentralisation programme and a 32% funding cut to allow the Authority operate at the most minimal level.
Mr Crowley dismisses as not credible Mr Ahern's explanation that the 43% savings are to help combat crime. He says some other non crime-fighting bodies under Mr Ahern's wing lost only between 1% and 9% in the budget.
He says the only credible explanation for the Authority being victimised appears to be that senior civil servants and/or the Government felt threatened by its support for people alleging discrimination particularly in the public service.
However, Ms Kerins expressed confidence that the Authority would be able to carry out its core functions, but in a more limited and prioritised way.
She praised Mr Crowley's contribution over the past decade.
Former President Mary Robinson has called on the Government to review what she called 'it' very savage' cut in the Equality Authority's budget.
Mrs Robinson also pleaded for a rethink of cuts in the Human Rights Commission's budget.
