The Period Products (Free Provision) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 aims to remove financial barriers to accessing period products.

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.

Siobhan Broderick, director of equality, rights and 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.”

The consultation is available online and will run for 12 weeks until Monday 18 September 2023.