Fianna Fáil Senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee has formally introduced a new bill which will require the Department of Health to introduce a scheme to provide free period products for women, girls and trans people that need them.
Senator Clifford-Lee commented, “This is something I have been passionately campaigning for for a number of years now. It is also a part of the Programme for Government and I have the full support of the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly on it.
“No woman, girl and trans person in Ireland should be struggling to access products they need to manage their periods safely and with dignity.
“Too many girls are missing school due to a lack of access to period products. Many women are using unsafe and unsuitable items.
“This is a serious and urgent public health issue, and this is why I’m bringing my new bill – The Free Provision of Period Products Bill 2021 – through the Seanad and it will then go on to the Dáil to become law.
Senator Clifford-Lee continued: “My bill requires the Minister for Health to introduce a scheme to provide free period products for women, girls and trans people that need them.
“Currently, number of voluntary groups are filling the gap and supporting vulnerable women, girls and trans people. The Government is now stepping up to the mark and will provide these products free to all who need them.”
Concluding, Senator Clifford-Lee added: “This issue is also part of the greater, overall debate on reproduction that we are having, but we still have a long way to go.”
