Lorraine Clifford-Lee (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the 12 Senators who spoke this evening and I am glad that all of them indicated support for the Bill. I took on board what they said. They were valuable and useful contributions and all Senators have their own unique perspective on the issue. I thank them for giving such thought to their presentations.

I wish to address some issues raised by Senator Moynihan, first, and to correct the record of the House. This Bill was not tabled in response to the Labour Party Bill and it is disingenuous of the Senator to suggest that. Last November, I secured this Private Members' business slot at our group meeting. Fianna Fáil has 20 Senators and securing a slot is very competitive. I raised it with my colleagues and secured this first slot after Christmas. The reason I got the slot is that I had a Bill ready to go. I ask the Senator to stop promoting that untruth. I have never sought to run the Senator or her work into the ground and I hope she will stop doing this to me. I hope we can move forward in a positive light. I was anxious to correct the House in that regard.

There is no indication that we want to have a limited scheme. I never suggested it. In fact, the wider gender equality issue is clearly acknowledged with universal access to period products. I will be working closely with the Minister, the Ministers of State and departmental officials to ensure we achieve this. Senator Pauline O'Reilly spoke about celebrating periods and their being part of the natural process that occurs in the animal world and the human world. I was struck by that because I have many friends who are facing infertility. Senators O'Loughlin and Ardagh are working on an assisted human reproduction Bill.I have many friends who would love to have regular periods and a healthy menstrual cycle. They would love dearly to have their own children. When we talk about shame and stigma, it strikes a chord with some women who do not have the opportunity to have a monthly period. We should bear that in mind.

Senator Conway made a most valuable contribution on period poverty suffered by people with disabilities. Affording dignity to them has to play a strong role in this. Senator Boylan raised an important issue in respect of the VAT on the newer sanitary products. That is something which we must work on at a European level. I have raised the issue with my colleague, Mr. Billy Kelleher, MEP. I will ask Mr. Kelleher to liaise with all the Irish MEPs to make sure that this issue is tackled. Senators Boylan and O'Loughlin mentioned Ms Claire Hunt from Homeless Period Ireland. I know that Ms Hunt is watching this debate. She deserves great credit for the work that she has been doing with the most marginalised people in Ireland. They are people without a roof over their heads. I commend her on all the work that she does.

Every Bill requires amendments. I was conscious that we were waiting on the report that is based on the Irish experience of period poverty. I was not going to second-guess the contents of the report. I believe that the Bill introduced in Scotland by Ms Monica Lennon, MSP, was heavily amended to deliver what was right for the Scottish experience. I hope that we can work together to get a very robust and fit-for-purpose scheme put in place for the Irish experience.

From my point of view, the most exciting development in the topic of period poverty taking centre stage politically has been the real engagement of young women on this issue, including teenage girls in secondary school. There has been great engagement with classes right across the country, who have invited me to speak to them about this issue. The young women and men in Ógra Fianna Fáil have also been working on this issue. It really shows them that they can get something done, and that their political activism can result in real life changes. I have also spoken to primary school teachers who have informed me that they do not have the education, experience or the language to deal with girls in their classes who are starting their periods. The toilets in primary schools are not even equipped with the appropriate sanitary bins.

I will finish shortly. I would appreciate being given an extra minute. Senator Dolan said that she would love to see sanitary products being supplied by the councils in Roscommon and Galway. I can confirm that Councillor Albert Dolan of Galway County Council is planning to table a motion on this issue shortly, so it is going to become a reality. There will be no delay on the Government's behalf. Substantial funding has been committed by the Department of Health. I am glad that the Minister of State confirmed earlier that he will make funding available immediately for the most vulnerable groups and that the supply will be distributed through food banks.

I thank Senators for their support. I hope we can leave here tonight united with one purpose, namely, to deliver for the women of Ireland.