South Dublin County Council votes unanimously in favour of marriage equality

10 Sep 2012

South Dublin County Council logo

Today Marriage Equality welcomed news that South Dublin County Council unanimously passed two motions in support of civil marriage for same sex couples. The motions were proposed by Labour and Sinn Fein councillors, including the Mayor of South Dublin County Council, Cathal King. The council joins Dublin City Council, who passed a similar motion last week; Cork and Belfast City Councils, who passed similar motions in June; as well as Omagh, Down, Moyle, Newry and Magherafelt District Councils who passed motions during the summer months.

"This is a wonderful step by South Dublin County Council to raise awareness of this important issue at a local level. We'd like to thank all councillors involved for their initiative, and our supporters in South Dublin who spoke to their councillors over the last few months about raising the issue," said Marriage Equality Director Moninne Griffith. "Marriage equality is not just a national issue, it's a local one. It's about respecting and protecting loving couples and families who are part of our communities and treating them as equal. That is why putting the issue on the agenda at local level is so important."

Last week, Dublin City councillors voted in favour of a motion supporting marriage equality by a total of 38 votes to 4, while Cork City Council's motion passed unanimously in June. Local authorities across Ireland have resumed their sessions this month. During the summer, councillors from city and county councils around Ireland were in contact with Marriage Equality about plans to bring their own motions of support forward in the coming months.

"We are delighted at the response we've received from councils around the country," added Ms Griffith. "In the coming weeks, we look forward to seeing a dramatic rise in the number of local authorities voicing their support for marriage equality, and sending a powerful message from their communities to the Government that same sex couples, our families and our children deserve equality. With 73% popular support, including TDs, government ministers and local authorities, the time for marriage equality is now."