The free tampon dispensers in the men’s toilets in Leinster House have “never actually been filled” with sanitary products, according to Senator Ronan Mullen, and simply amount to “virtue signalling.”
The dispensers were installed at several men’s restrooms around the government buildings at the end of November, as first highlighted by the political editor of the Independent.ie, Philip Ryan. This was apparently done in an effort to ensure gender neutrality for males who may be menstruating, and was met with much online mockery and scorn at the time.
Just installed in men’s toilet in Leinster House. pic.twitter.com/mEKsEFp3uX
— Philip Ryan (@Philip_Ryan) November 24, 2022
However, according to Independent Senator Ronan Mullen this week, “the bizarre thing is, they’ve never actually been filled with any [sanitary] product.”
Leinster House Loo-nacy: the Irish Parliament's unique gesture to gender politics pic.twitter.com/vJeC4yLpsX
— Senator Rónán Mullen (@RonanMullen) June 2, 2023
“I think what’s going on here,” he said, “is taxpayer money is being spent in order to virtue signal, to tick the box of inclusivity, to put in a vending machine in the men’s toilets for women’s sanitary products which nobody actually seems to want.”
The Senator joked: “But at least they’re not imposing on the taxpayer by filling them. Or at least, if they are, somebody is coming along very early every morning and and robbing it, because I’ve never seen it with any products in it.”
Mullen went on to describe the policy as “loo-nacy.”
“This is what Charlie Haughey would have called ‘an Irish solution to an Irish problem,’” he said.
“When will the madness end?”
When the dispenser was first installed, social media users variously described it as “a thundering waste of taxpayers money,” “performative nonsense” and “idiocy.”
“A thundering waste of taxpayers money”: Social media users have reacted with scorn and ridicule after it was revealed that a free tampon dispenser has been installed in the men’s bathroom at the Irish government building.#gripthttps://t.co/IC8jNnBXAv
— gript (@griptmedia) November 25, 2022
However, some individuals, such as journalist Donal O’Keeffe, supported the move, saying it was “about time.”
About time.
— Donal O’Keeffe (@Donal_OKeeffe) November 24, 2022
Another user said that “men with vaginas have periods too,” adding that the development was “fab.”
😂😂😂😂
— Stewie Griffin (@TessW62) November 25, 2022