It should be free, period
Women’s sanitary products may soon be made available for free in public buildings after a vote took place at Cork County Hall this week.
The motion, put forward by Fianna Fáil Councillor Gobnait Moynihan, asked the council to agree to make free sanitary products available in all public buildings such as community centres, swimming pools and libraries. Councillor Moynihan said Cork County Council has a responsibility to “break down the stigma around periods” and to tackle period poverty.
She said the term period poverty refers to women being unable to access sanitary products due to financial constraints.
She added that not having the money to afford sanitary products can often force women to use “makeshift and inadequate” protection.
“The issue of period poverty is part and parcel of the broader issue of poverty in society. It is a condition of not having enough money to live one's life,” she said.
She said opening up a conversation surrounding the issue as well as providing free sanitary products, would help to “restore dignity and wellbeing for all women”.
“Nobody talks about toilet paper poverty because it's considered to be a basic hygiene product that we all understand should be universally provided. Every single public building has toilet paper, so why should it be any different with sanitary products?” said Councillor Moynihan.
In 2020, the Scottish government unanimously approved the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill making it a legal duty on local authorities to ensure that free items such as tampons and sanitary pads are available to anyone who needs them.
Councillor Moynihan said: “The provision of sanitary products in public buildings is recognition that the products are a necessity and not a luxury.”
She insisted a vote to support the motion be taken with the majority voting in favour except for one who abstained from voting.
“I feel very strongly about this. It is to do with dignity and respect for women.
“It does not cost a lot of money. The fact that I have to push this is embarrassing,” she concluded.