Pauline O'Reilly (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I am not sure I want to go on after Senator Moynihan's contribution. I thank the Senators and commend them on putting forward Bills on this matter, along with all the people who have done work for a long time on this. I also mention everybody who has been experiencing periods all their lives and knows first-hand these difficulties. I know many, like me, had to approach strangers for help in getting this essential service as teenagers because they did not have any pocket money. It is correct to say it should be like toilet paper, which we do not pay for in a public facility.

We have spoken much about the pain and shame but menstruation is a celebration as well, and we very rarely talk about that aspect. It is a celebration not just of life giving but of who we are. How we operate in the world is based around our cycles or not having those cycles. One of the key aspects of this report concerns stigma. If we are saying there is no stigma, it is not just that there is no stigma around pain but that there is no stigma around the joy in being a person with a menstrual cycle and what this has to offer the world as well. It is a closeness to nature and connection with other species and how we are natural beings. It is a key part of this discussion.

It has not been mentioned but it is important to look on period products from an environmental aspect as well. Many years ago I was converted to using reusable products and I have not had to purchase a product for years. We need to take this into consideration, regardless of which Bill we go for or which recommendations we follow. The matter is not considered to a sufficient degree as €25 will buy something that will last for years while doing no damage to the environment. We must think creatively about how we deal with this. These are not products that can be picked up in a public toilet but it should be free.

In the same way, I know many people have spoken about contraceptives and I tabled a motion relating to free contraceptives when the Minister of State came to the House previously. Senator Clifford-Lee has done work on free access to contraceptives as well and the women's caucus has worked on all these matters. It is a key consideration and with contraceptives, for example, it should not just be a case of allowing people to pick up a condom, which is the cheapest option. We should think about what suits a woman or a person at a particular time. It may be a different product.More work is required on this but, as a first step, we need to make sure the people who really need a certain product are catered for.

The report states that between 53,000 and 85,000 people are at risk of period poverty. Those people need to be dealt with as soon as possible. We need to think creatively. I am not attached to the outcome but to the actual result for women and girls and for transgender and intersex individuals. I am attached to ensuring everybody has access. We must think long term about the kinds of commitments we need to make to our planet and to people's pockets. That includes the pocket of the State because, as we said about contraceptives, it is actually cheaper in the long run if the State forks out up front for something that might cost a little more. It will save it money.

I thank the Fianna Fáil women for introducing this Bill. The deputy leader of the Green Party, Deputy Catherine Martin, has done significant work on this for a long time, as have many of my colleagues. I also thank Senator Moynihan for introducing a Bill. It is quite correct to say neither Bill is perfect. This is Second Stage, however, not Committee Stage, so we should all work together. Forty percent of Members of this Chamber are women. That is why we are seeing all these things flying at us from every angle. Is it not great to see that we can all work together on these issues?