SENATE REPORT: The Minster for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Mr O'Donoghue, said he understood that a discrimination complaint against "a certain club" was currently before the courts and he believed that a decision in that case would obviously set a precedent for other cases.

The Minister was responding to a demand by Dr Mary Henry (Ind) that steps be taken to ensure that no State body should provide money for an event at a club which discriminated against women.

Speaking during debate on the National Tourism Development Authority Bill, she said she would be tabling an amendment with a view to preventing money being given in such circumstances.

Mr O'Donoghue emphasised that Bord Fáilte had decided to continue its sponsorship of the Irish Open event, not the venue. The board felt obliged to do so in view of the returns which we in this country got from golf sponsorship.

We had the most modern anti-discrimination legislation in Europe and there were ways in which the Equality Authority or any member of the public could make a complaint of discrimination.

Dr Henry said the problem was that the Minister had said that the Irish Open would be beamed into homes all over the world. It had already been beamed into the BBC, which was saying that the Irish Open would be played next time at a club which discriminated against women.