Fingal County and Waterford City Councils vote in favour of marriage equality

9 Oct 2012

Today Marriage Equality welcomed news that two further local authorities have passed motions in support of civil marriage for same sex couples. Fingal County Council and Waterford City Council both passed motions of support at their meetings last night. The councils join Dublin City Council, who passed a similar motion in September; 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 both councils 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 these areas 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."

Today also saw former President Mary McAleese stating her support for the issue, in an interview with Gay Byrne as part of his Meaning of Life series. Mrs McAleese said she had "no problem" with the issue of marriage equality, and that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people were "as entitled to live their lives on their own terms as I do as a heterosexual."

Local authorities across Ireland resumed their sessions in September. 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, and with today's support from former President Mary McAleese," 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."