As we mentioned yesterday, two local councils in the east held meetings last night which included motions in support of marriage equality: South Dublin and Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown.

In the event, South Dublin voted on two separate motions, and both were passed unanimously by councillors:

Mayor – we have an opportunity to be at the forefront of this movement. #justlovedublinsouth

— Marriage Equality (@marriagequality) September 10, 2012

Possibly 26,000 people in South Dublin affected by this issue. #justlovedublinsouth

— Marriage Equality (@marriagequality) September 10, 2012

“Council has a duty to stand up for LGBT people.” #justlovedublinsouth

— Marriage Equality (@marriagequality) September 10, 2012

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, which 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 where motions were passed during the summer months.

Meanwhile, in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, the council’s meeting ran over time, and so a vote wasn’t taken on the marriage equality motion there. Reports on Twitter are that the motion will come up again at the next meeting in October.

@marriagequality My motion will go onto the Council’s next agenda (8 October 5-7pm). Anyone looking to attend, e-mail bward@cllr.dlrcoco.ie

— Barry Ward (@cllrbarryward) September 10, 2012

Marriage Equality welcomed news that South Dublin County Council unanimously passed two motions in support of civil marriage for same sex couples.

Marriage Equality Director, Moninne Griffith, said:

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.

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, when Dublin City councillors voted in favour of a motion supporting marriage equality, the motion was passed by a total of 38 votes to 4. 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.

Ms Griffith added:

We are delighted at the response we’ve received from councils around the country.

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.