Frances Black (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I commend Senator Clifford-Lee on tabling this Bill which tackles the everyday injustices felt by people during their menstruation cycles. It is essential that in 2021 we see legislation to end the prominent problem of period poverty in support of women's rights. Periods are not a luxury. They are an everyday life reality and there should be absolutely no barriers to accessing the necessary sanitary products for all people who have periods. It is shameful that there are young people with periods who intentionally avoid attending school owing to the lack of sanitary products. This is a problem that can be tackled with the correct legislation.

In 2021, it should not be the case that people who do not have access to money are missing out on basic sanitary products. We can reduce and eradicate the levels of period poverty in our lifetime. To do that, we require legislation that aims to make meaningful change for those who menstruate. It is a part of everyday life and we must have period justice for all people. United Nations Human Rights Council Resolution 33/10 stated that the lack of menstrual health management and the stigma associated with menstruation both have a negative impact on gender equality and the enjoyment by women, girls and trans people of human rights, including the right to education and health. I am delighted that the Departments of Health and Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth have jointly launched a report examining the prevalence and impact of period poverty in Ireland in line with the recommendations of Oireachtas motions passed in early 2019.

Period poverty is a very real and persistent problem in Ireland, one that unfortunately carries with it the weight of considerable shame and stigma. The reality is that 800 million women, girls and trans people menstruate every day. It has been calculated that the average cost of period products alone in Ireland is up to €130, just in respect of the menstrual cycle. This is before the additional costs for pain management, contraceptives and laundry bills are factored into the calculation. This is a major additional financial burden, which can be unmanageable for the most vulnerable in society.

While I say "well done" to Senator Clifford-Lee, I also commend Senator Moynihan and the Labour Party on having another Bill on the Order Paper. As a group, they have taken tremendous strides in creating comprehensive and thorough legislation that tackles period poverty and ensures the provision of education around the destigmatising of periods for women, girls and trans people who menstruate. It is essential that we implement legislation that follows in the steps of the ground-breaking Scottish Labour Party Bill, on which Monica Lennon, MSP, led. Ireland can and should follow in the footsteps of Scotland, the model for such legislation and its implementation.

It is essential that there is also education provided concerning where these products are available. In 2021, there is no reason that the provision of period products should differ from the provision of soap or toilet rolls in a public building. There are countless examples of young people on lower incomes who struggle to afford tampons and sanitary towels and are forced to resort to using items such as kitchen roll and socks. There are examples, as I mentioned, of young people avoiding school around their period, meaning that they are missing out on their full education and schooling. By providing easily accessible products in our schools, we can protect these girls and give them the same chance as their peers. In this day and age, we should not be in a situation where people are not using the products they need for their periods. For this reason, we need a legal basis to underpin a scenario in which products are freely available in schools, educational institutions funded by the State and public service bodies.

Some 109 of the young women who participated in a survey said they were forced to use a "less suitable sanitary product" because of the high monthly cost involved. Nearly 60% of young women said they did not find classes at school on periods helpful, while six out of ten reported feeling shame and embarrassment about their periods. A small number even said they believed they could lose their virginity by using a tampon, while others did not think it was possible to become pregnant while on their period. Some 61% of Irish girls have missed school because of their periods and more than 80% said they did not feel comfortable talking about their periods with their father or a teacher. Nearly 70% take some form of pain relief during menstruation.

This report clearly highlights the need for education and normalisation regarding periods, as well as removing barriers to accessing these products. I commend the Labour Party's social media campaign, "Bleedin' Justice", to raise awareness of period poverty and the injustices that go with menstruation. It has been highly informative and important in encouraging conversation around this topic, which so many struggle to speak about. As Senator Moynihan said, period injustice can have a detrimental effect on the health and well-being of women, girls and trans people.The objective of this legislation is that all who menstruate should be able to access period products at no cost as and when they are required. For some reason, period products are treated as a luxury item. Period products are not a luxury item and should be accessible to all who need them. It is common sense that we implement legislation which will ensure that young women in particular can access different types of period products easily and, importantly, can do so with dignity.