Debate contribution: Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill
Debate contribution by Mr Gordon Lyons on .
- MLA
- Mr Gordon Lyons
- Party at the time
- Democratic Unionist Party
- Date
- 8 September 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5674140
Read the official Assembly record
Text
It is not an attack, Kellie. Here we go again: people take language to mean what it does not mean. I am simply highlighting the fallacy of your argument. Let us base this not on emotion but on the text that is in front of us. I do not know whether this is Mr Tennyson's intention, but nowhere in the Bill does it exclude a conversation that could happen between a parent and a child. It does not exclude that at all. That will be within the scope of the Bill. I encourage Members to read it. There is no exemption or get-out clause. If the legislation were put in place, there would be no defence in those circumstances. I hope that Mr Tennyson will work with others in the Chamber so that we can find something that deals with quack therapies or pseudoscience that cause harm to people. However, as the Member well knows, much of that is covered in law already. Coercive behaviour is covered already. Let us not rush into doing something that would significantly damage ordinary conversations in the home.
184 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Awaiting analysis
This record has not been analysed yet. It is not counted in any total until it has been assessed.
Disagree with this assessment?
Classifications can be challenged. A person reviews every challenge, and any change is recorded publicly above with its reason.