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 5706654

Text

I am grateful to the Member for giving way. The point that the Member for North Antrim just made shows the merry-go-round that we are on today. The 10 people about whom we are talking do not represent the area of concern for us in how the legislation does what it should not intend to do. We want to make sure that, if people are mistreated, if they are abused or if they are coerced into behaviour that is clearly wrong, the people who have done that are prosecuted. However, our concern is not with that, and it is deeply concerning that someone who, to be fair to her, has been here for most of the debate still does not get that we are not talking about individuals who are facing real harm. It is the unintended consequences that we are worried about. I despair at the nature of this debate if that still has not been made clear to some Members in the Chamber.

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

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