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

Debate contribution by Mr Colin McGrath on 15 September 2026.

MLA: Mr Colin McGrath
Party at the time: Social Democratic and Labour Party
Date: 15 September 2026
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Private Members' Business
Heading: Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill: Second Stage
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5706591

Text

If you agree that the practice should be banned, as the DUP says that it does because it believes that it is unhelpful to people and inhibits their development, and if there is a Bill to introduce such a ban, the way to protect and change that Bill is to pass it tonight and to look at it at Committee Stage. It would be odd to vote it out so that there is nothing for us to scrutinise, change, influence and perfect so that, at the end of the process, we would have something that protects everybody. Everybody in the House has said, and contributor after contributor from the DUP in the debate, has said that they understand the need for the Bill. It would be odd for a legislature to kick it out, rather than let it go to Committee Stage where there can be an attempt to perfect it, change it and have your influence on it.

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

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