Debate contribution: Justice Bill: Consideration Stage

Debate contribution by Mr Gerry Carroll on 8 June 2026.

MLA

Mr Gerry Carroll

Party at the time

People Before Profit Alliance

Date

8 June 2026

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Executive Committee Business

Heading

Justice Bill: Consideration Stage

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5601101

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I was initially talking about misuse by the police, but it could be misused by a shop owner, a business or somebody who does not like somebody else and wants to complain about them. It is broad, and there are no safeguards in that regard. I have concerns about that. Poverty is not a crime, and those who are destitute are not criminals. The Member spoke earlier about coercion, trafficking and people being exploited. There are already laws to deal with those crimes, where there is real concern that they are happening. I will not support re-criminalising begging in a different way, through a different amendment, although I realise that I may be in a minority of one. I support amendment No 73, which relates to the abolition of offences of blasphemy. It was straightforward, to me, on my initial reading. The offences of blasphemy and blasphemous libel are a relic of an old, outdated age. They have no place in a modern society that values free expression. I would challenge the assertions that were made by the Member for North Belfast and, I think, the Member for North Antrim that Christians are under threat in the UK and Ireland. That is simply not true. There is freedom of expression, freedom of religion and freedom to practise religion. As an atheist, I defend the right of any organisation, including Christian organisations, to retain that freedom. A lot of myths are being put out, and we need to challenge them in respect of this amendment and more generally. I also challenge the assertion, which was made in different ways, that Muslims have it easy or great in Ireland, whether in the North of Ireland or elsewhere. Muslims face racism, harassment and all sorts of other repressive actions. I found the Member for North Belfast's comments about a cabal of "left-wing comedians" strange. I would like him to show me examples. We have to challenge the idea that Christianity is under the cosh or under challenge. That is not true. For that reason, and many more, I will support amendment No 73. I thank the Member for tabling it.

I have some issues with amendment No 78, similar to those outlined by the Member for South Belfast. We are, obviously, unequivocally opposed to exploitation, coercion and trafficking. Where those things exist, the full force of the law should follow. People should be prosecuted and stand trial for that. That is not solely what the amendment does, however. It also criminalises the advertising of sexual services "regardless", to use its own word, of whether anyone makes a penny from it. That is sweeping and general, and I share the Member for South Belfast's concerns about targeting and criminalising people who engage in sex work. Regardless of whether people morally like it or not, it happens, it is a reality, and adults make a choice to do it and take part in it. I am concerned that those things are being lumped together.

499 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 15:56 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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