Catherine Noone (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I also commend the women's caucus for the motion and acknowledge Deputy Catherine Martin who is in the Public Gallery. As others said, it is a conversation that needs to be had.

This is an issue that, when it does not affect one directly, can be quite difficult to relate to. If one can afford to purchase the products one needs, and one lives in that world, it is easy not to think of those who might be in a different situation. No woman should have to choose between basic needs and sanitary products and yet that is the situation in which some women find themselves each month.

Recent studies show that 50% of Irish girls aged between 12 and 19 have experienced issues with the affordability of sanitary products. That is a significant number and, as Senator Clifford-Lee said, our neighbours in Scotland have rolled out a scheme to provide free sanitary products in schools. That alone would do away with much of that statistic I mentioned, which would be welcome. The scheme in Scotland is highly effective and costs approximately £5 million per year to operate, which is a lot of money, but is affordable in the context of what we spend as a country. As others said, women who are vulnerable in direct provision and homelessness are the most in need of measures that could alleviate period poverty.

Some schools in Ireland have also brought in the strategy adopted in Scotland and they should be commended. However, their reach is limited and there is no replacement for Government action, as Senator Clifford-Lee said, which can reach every woman on this island. Missing school, becoming ill or getting infections are all serious issues that are related to this. As previous speakers said, it is about having an open and frank conversation on the issue. Senator Bacik, in particular, has clearly done a lot of research on the level of stigma and taboo that exists in developing countries and went into considerable detail about that. There is still a stigma and embarrassment. With the greatest of respect to the men present, if something is below the belt in this Chamber, it tends to be women who talk about it which, in a way, is understandable but it speaks to a stigma or embarrassment about women's health issues. That needs to be brought to an end. We are all familiar with the euphemisms that Senator Bacik mentioned and those things are not spoken about openly or freely. Perhaps there is a reason for that.

Period poverty is a problem for which we know there is a solution that is not costly. That is where I come from on this. We must act now on what we know to be the right thing to do and ensure that no woman or girl in Ireland faces this dilemma ever again.

I pay tribute to Ms Claire Hunt of Homeless Period Ireland, as Senator Clifford-Lee did. She has worked tirelessly to address this issue in communities across Ireland. Her drive and determination serve as a welcome inspiration for actions we must consider as legislators. Like other issues that relate to women, we need to push for this. It is an area that begs a few puns but the bottom line is we need this motion to be passed and something to be done, period.