An Irish woman has fumed about Lidl's Ireland recent scheme to give free period products in a bid to tackle period poverty.
The new initiative will see Lidl offer a dedicated coupon for a free box of sanitary pads or tampons per customer each month through their app Lidl Plus.
It is in partnership with Homeless Period Ireland and the Simon Community.
However, one woman named Marian rang into Joe Duffy's Liveline on RTE Radio One to express her annoyance about it.
She said: "We’re not a third world country as far as I know. Why would they report this in the EuroNews, they’ll be reading that we’re giving free sanitary for Irish young ladies.
"If they were doing this in Germany and all the other countries, fine, but why single out Ireland and our women? Irish women are always being downgraded, we’re well able to look after our own health."
Marian argued that Lidl should instead give the products away to "the countries that really need it".
She added: "Us Irish ladies do not need Lidl to be promoting this, especially when you hear it on EuroNews. It’s bad enough in our own Irish papers where it really annoys you and shocks you — but when it’s all over Europe they’ll think “what are we like?”.
"Can we not look after our own hygiene? It’s ridiculous."
Host Joe Duffy suggested that anybody abroad that saw the news may say that ‘Ireland is a very progressive country’ but Marian didn't agree.
She said: "I don’t think so, not in my eyes.
"We still can look after our own hygiene."
Other people called into the show to give their take on the initiative, one woman called Anne had 'quite the opposite’ opinion to Marian’s.
Anne said: "I think we should be absolutely applauded for what we’ve done.
"The amount of times girls have missed school because they can’t afford the product, the amount of girls caught shoplifting these products … To turn around and say it doesn’t exist will have done no favours to these young girls.
"The fact we’re on the world stage is only saying that Ireland is a very socially compassionate country and we’re looking after an issue that hasn’t been attended to before."
Radio presenter Louise McSharry couldn't believe what she had heard on Liveline and posted on Twitter: "There’s a woman on Liveline who is upset that Lidl Ireland are offering free period products because it makes Ireland look like a third world country. She doesn’t like that it was featured on Euro News. You could not make it up."
Period poverty is described as the lack of access to sanitary products, menstrual hygiene education, toilets, hand washing facilities, and, or, waste management, is a growing issue in Ireland particularly since the onset of the pandemic.
A Plan International study on young females in Ireland found that almost 50 per cent of girls aged between 12 and 19 found it difficult to pay for sanitary products.
Lidl’s new initiative comes in advance of anticipated Irish legislation and implementation of supporting measures.
On Monday, Carla Rowe, Ladies Gaelic Football player said about the initiative: “There has long been a stigma around menstruation in the public sphere, particularly when competing in sport and I’m delighted to see Lidl tackle this topic head on, raising awareness and supporting women and girls affected by this issue across the country.”
Claire Hunt, Founder of Homeless Period Ireland said: “I'm delighted that Lidl Ireland have partnered with Homeless Period Ireland in order to take meaningful action against period poverty in Ireland. This initiative will ensure that those most in need will have the ability to access suitable period products.
“In a first world country like ours no one should have to choose between feeding themselves and their family or buying period products.
“It is my hope that in due course much anticipated legislation and measures will be implemented and ultimately Homeless Period Ireland and indeed initiatives like this one should no longer have to exist.”
