Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Bill to the House and commend Senator Clifford-Lee on tabling it. As a matter of fact, it was not long after the Senator was elected to the House in 2017 that she spoke on this issue and highlighted it. It is good to see that Bills are finally coming to the House on such an important issue. The motions that came before the Seanad and the Dáil in 2019 set the agenda. In my opinion, it was far too late but at least it set the agenda. I acknowledge my colleague, Senator Seery Kearney, who has also been campaigning on this issue for a long time, as has Senator Moynihan.The work done by Dublin City Council and all of the other councils is commendable. I would like to see it rolled out to every council in the country.

It is important that men speak about this issue. There is a phenomenal level of ignorance among males when it comes to this issue. This is not, to a large extent, the fault of the male. Rather, it is the fault of the education system and sex education which, in my view, has been pitifully poor in this country for decades. I agree with everything Senator Boyhan said and the eloquent manner in which he said it. What he said is true and accurate.

It is shocking that globally 50% of women experience period poverty. This should not exist in our society and it needs to be eliminated as a matter of urgency. This is a serious political issue. I agree this House needs to come together on it. It is not a political football but a political issue that needs to be dealt with. I am glad it is in the programme for Government. I do not know who is responsible for it being in the programme, but I acknowledge the sentiment and commitment in this regard among all parties in government and in opposition. Let us come together and put through this House legislation that can then be considered by Dáil Éireann and become the law of the land, thus requiring the Government to honour the commitment in the programme for Government to deal with this important issue.

I, too, have heard stories of females with serious disabilities and the challenges they face. The report issued today is welcome. I have only had time to scan through it because it only became available this afternoon. According to one statistic, the cost associated with period poverty is €100, which is in addition to the pain associated with periods.