Lorraine Clifford-Lee (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I raise a very important issue today. It is one I raised on a number of occasions in the previous Seanad, namely, period poverty. For those who do not know what period poverty is, it is being unable to access sanitary products due to financial constraints. It is a global public health issue and vulnerable women and girls in Ireland today are suffering from period poverty. They cannot manage their menstruation in a safe, dignified and healthy fashion and without stigma and shame attached to it. That poses a very real risk to their health and well-being. A recent survey of girls in Ireland revealed that 50% have been unable to access sanitary products due to financial constraints and 61% have missed school as a result of their period. Women are using rags and newspapers and some have suffered significant permanent damage to their health as a result of using inappropriate products. It is shameful that, as a rich, developed country, we allow this to persist. We already know that women have borne the brunt of this pandemic financially and otherwise. Period poverty in Ireland is set to become an even bigger issue in the coming years as a result of the pandemic.

Almost a year and a half ago, the Seanad and Dáil passed identical motions on period poverty.I was happy to play my part in that in the previous Seanad. As a result of those dual motions, the Minister for Health gave a commitment that sanitary products would be available in all public buildings and a committee on this subject was set up within the Department, which brought together various NGOs and interest groups. That committee has met, so I ask the Leader to call the new Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, to this House to get an update on its work. Ireland was a global leader on public health in the past. The current Taoiseach brought in the smoking ban when he was the Minister for Health and Children, and we were world leaders in that regard. That ban changed the culture, public health and people's behaviour, and it saved thousands of lives. Now is the time to make a bold statement on behalf of women in this country. We must become global leaders and join countries like Scotland and New Zealand by giving the women of Ireland the respect they need and the dignity to have a safe period.