Debate contribution: Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill: Second Stage

Debate contribution by Mr Gordon Lyons on 15 September 2026.

MLA: Mr Gordon Lyons
Party at the time: Democratic Unionist Party
Date: 15 September 2026
Type: Debate contribution (made as a minister)
Business: Private Members' Business
Heading: Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill: Second Stage
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5706526

Text

I appreciate the Member's giving way. I want to come back on that point because the Bill sponsor is fundamentally wrong on two of the issues that he has just addressed. He said that there needs to be a formal course of therapy. That exists nowhere in the legislation. Read what it says in clause 4. It does not say that there needs to be a formal course of therapy. That is why private conversations and parental rights issues are invoked here. Secondly, he says that it needs to be a specific, identifiable individual. Again, nowhere in the legislation does it say that. It does not matter how often he puts his hands up in the air; it does not say that in the Bill.

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

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