A public consultation to make period products free to all has been launched by a Stormont department.
It comes just over a year since legislation which will make period products freely available to all in schools, colleges and public buildings was passed by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
The Private Member's Bill brought by SDLP MLA Pat Catney will create a legal right of free access to items such as tampons and sanitary pads.
Read more: Legislation to make period products freely available in NI passed by Assembly
The Act places importance on respect for dignity and aims to remove financial barriers to accessing period products.
Previously, Northern Ireland had been the only part of the UK not to have a permanent scheme in place to tackle period poverty.
The Executive Office has now launched a public consultation after Mr Catney introduced successful legislation in the Assembly last year.
The consultation states that period products are essential items for personal care and should be available to everyone who needs them, regardless of their economic status.
Mr Catney has encouraged the public to respond to the consultation on free period products.
He said: “I’m delighted that we have taken another important step towards seeing my period products legislation introduced which will ensure that nobody will have to go without these important healthcare products.
“Given the challenges facing families with the rising cost of living it's important that the provisions of my Bill are introduced as soon as possible.
“When putting this legislation together I worked with a number of campaigners and women’s groups who played a key role in informing the legislation and ensuring that it properly reflected the needs of women across the North.
“It’s important that as many people as possible respond to this consultation so that we get a wide range of views on this issue to inform policy around free period products going forward."
The SDLP councillor added: “I brought forward this legislation because I was inspired to do something as a father and grandfather after learning about the challenges many still face in obtaining these products.
“It’s heartbreaking to think that in this day and age people’s lives are being interrupted because they simply cannot afford these products and I believe this legislation will go some way to breaking the stigma around period poverty."
Launching the consultation, Siobhan Broderick, Director of Equality, Rights & identity within The Executive Office said: “The Assembly recently made a ground-breaking piece of legislation called the Period Products (Free Provision) Act to remove financial barriers to accessing period products.
“This is an important piece of legislation that will provide the basis for introducing vital support to tackle issues around period dignity.
“We believe this is a matter of basic dignity. No-one should be prevented from going to school, college or work because they cannot access period products when they need them.
“To shape what this scheme will look like, the Department is now consulting with the public on what type of products should be available, and how and where they should be obtained.”
Scotland became the first country in the world to make period products free for all in 2020.
In England and Wales a number of schemes are operated by local authorities and NHS England.
In Northern Ireland pilot programmes had previously been put in place by the Departments of Education and Economy.
The online consultation, which runs for 12 weeks was launched on Monday, 26 June and closes on Monday, 18 September. It can be accessed here.
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