Debate contribution: The draft Period Products (Department of Education Specified Public Service Bodies) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024.
Debate contribution by Mrs Cathy Mason on .
- MLA
- Mrs Cathy Mason
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 15 April 2024
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Executive Committee Business
- Heading
- The draft Period Products (Department of Education Specified Public Service Bodies) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024.
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 4482532
Read the official Assembly record
Text
Nobody should have to suffer the indignity of using unsuitable materials to mask their period or have to choose between putting food on the table and buying period products for themselves or their children. Period products are essential; they are not luxury items. For many people and families who are struggling with the rising cost of living, it can be a financial burden and a huge worry. No girl should ever miss school or school activities because she cannot access such products. Free access to sanitary products should be the norm in schools, universities, colleges, workplaces, football grounds, concert venues and many more places. Sinn Féin will continue to campaign for that in the Assembly and our local councils. At a recent meeting of the Education Committee, as has been said, concerns were raised as to why non-statutory bodies, such as the Council for Integrated Education, Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta and the Middletown Centre for Autism cannot be specified in the regulations. I welcome the regulations, and, as they progress, we expect the Department to work constructively with those bodies and support them so that they are able to provide period products in their settings.
194 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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