Madam, - As a woman I find it both patronising and insulting that the Equality Authority should take it upon itself to pursue a court challenge against Portmarnock Golf Club to force it to accept women members (The Irish Times, June 12th).
While I happen to disagree with the club's policy, it is entirely a matter for the members of this club to decide how they wish to constitute the membership and access to services that they offer.
The State has no legitimate role or compelling interest in meddling in the internal affairs of private institutions. In a free society, if all-male or all-female clubs wish to exclude members of the opposite sex,it should be their right to do so.
The sooner the nanny-State stops trying to micro-manage private institutions and public appointments, and allows women to progress on the basis of their own initiative and considerable talents, the sooner we will have true equality and liberation in our country. - Yours, etc.,
NIAMH ROCHE, Kill Avenue, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.