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

Debate contribution by Mr Paul Boggs on 15 September 2026.

MLA: Mr Paul Boggs
Party at the time: Sinn Féin
Date: 15 September 2026
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Private Members' Business
Heading: Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill: Second Stage
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5707064

Text

Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle
I am sure that what everybody needs at this hour is a maiden speech, but here we go. I am deeply honoured to take up my seat as a Sinn Féin MLA for West Tyrone. As this is my first time to speak in the Chamber, I send my best wishes to my predecessor and good friend, Maolíosa McHugh. Over many years, Maolíosa served his constituents well as a councillor for Derg district electoral area (DEA), mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council and MLA for West Tyrone. It is a privilege for me to follow on from Maolíosa and a long list of first-class republican representatives, including Pat Doherty, the late Claire McGill and Michaela Boyle, who all served in the House. I intend to serve the people of West Tyrone with the same energy, enthusiasm and determination as they did, while playing my part in the journey towards a better, fairer and more inclusive Ireland. I got involved in politics having been inspired by our chieftain and former deputy First Minister, the late Martin McGuinness. Martin's contribution to creating peace on the island, his commitment to the communities and people whom he represented and his determination to ensure that the rights of all citizens were available, upheld and respected has led us to the much better place that we are in today. Having been born after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, I recognise the huge progress that has been made in our society. We have people living in peace, more children being educated together than ever before and communities leading the change that they want to see. The election of Michelle O'Neill as First Minister has proven that times have changed and that there is a huge shift towards a more progressive, inclusive and welcoming present and future. The Bill reflects the desire for even more progress. At home in West Tyrone, we have seen massive progress too, including in education. In recent years, we have had new school builds at Strabane Academy, Holy Cross College and, most recently, Gaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh, which has gone from strength to strength, enabling the Irish language to thrive across our district. I am also excited about the progress being made on our city deal projects, which will totally transform Strabane town, providing a new health hub, a new North West Regional College building, an active travel footbridge, the long-awaited town leisure centre and the recent investment in the town centre public realm scheme. In other areas, we have seen much-needed investment in community spaces, such as the castle site and Mitchell Park in Castlederg. Recently, Lidl has announced its confidence in investing in that growing and thriving community. In rural areas such as Newtownstewart, Glenmornan, Clady and Aghyaran, community spirit is at the heart of everything that people do. They, in particular, need our support to continue to grow. Looking forward, I remain fully committed to the building of the A5. Too many in my constituency have had devastation visited on their families, workplaces and communities. That road must be built, most importantly to improve road safety and save lives but also to ensure that we improve connectivity across the island. The message from Sinn Féin and me could not be clearer: the A5 road must be built. I look forward to working with Members across the Assembly to deliver the real change that our communities want. The Bill is hugely important because, despite the clear progress that we have seen in many areas, the struggle for full LGBTQIA+ equality is far from over. Sadly, many areas of inequality continue to exist and require more work to ensure that true equality is achieved. In 2021 and 2024, the issue of conversion practices was debated in the Chamber. At every stage, Sinn Féin has been clear on where we stand: harmful practices that emanate from a time when gay people were seen to be sick, sinful or shameful should never have had a place in society. They certainly do not have a place now. However, when we talk about the progress that has been made, the Bill reminds us, as I said, that there is still much to do. Conversion practices and anti-equality views should be consigned to the past. Through my teens and early twenties, I struggled with my sexuality. It is my experience that blatant homophobia in some sections of society inflicts even more fear, anxiety and distress on a person, no more so than in rural areas such as those that I represent across West Tyrone, where, for too long, people held conservative views. Thankfully, that, too, is changing for the better. Conversion practices clearly legitimise homophobia, and, therefore, so that every person, regardless of their sexual orientation, experiences compassion, we must ensure that further progress is made and that conversion practices are brought to an end. That would work towards the achievement of full LGBTQIA+ equality and the greater protection of vulnerable people. There is a need to bring the legislation forward at this stage, and some of the commentary around it in the lead-up to today's debate shows that there are still some in society and in politics, more often than not on the opposite Benches, who hold anti-equality views. Sad as that is, it comes as no surprise. It was the same political parties and representatives who, for years, blocked marriage equality and objected to gay men donating blood, and some of them, in the lead-up to today's debate, again showed that they wish to stall progress on the outlawing of practices that have the sole aim of suppressing somebody's sexuality. The positions and stances that some have taken over the years on LGBT rights have had an impact on vulnerable people, and the fact that conversion practices still exist today is a signal to some that who they are is not who they should be. People do not need to be fixed. However, society does. In my view, progress on LGBTQIA+ rights has been slowed down and stalled by some who do not want to see equality and basic human rights. The issues of rights and equality are at the heart of our efforts to end division and the conflicts of the past and to build a new future and a new Ireland for all our people. Equality and rights are not up for negotiation. They belong to everyone and are the foundation of a truly shared future. None of us has anything to fear from equality and compassion. No section of this society, regardless of politics, creed, class, colour, cultural tradition or sexual orientation, will be put to the back of the bus again. Twenty-eight years on from the Good Friday Agreement, there are still crucial elements that have not been implemented by the British and Irish Governments, including a bill of rights for the North, the Civic Forum and a charter of rights for the island of Ireland, and the British Government have refused to fulfil their commitments and obligations to deal with the legacy of the past and the concerns of families who were bereaved during the conflict. There is an onus on us to put in place strategies that promote understanding and an internationally compliant human rights system of laws and governance that incorporates rights, freedoms and responsibilities and guarantees civil and political rights. What is needed is the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, including the setting of a date and planning for a referendum on Irish reunification. I will finish on this. To the people who joined us in the Public Gallery this morning and those whom we met at the bottom of the steps and to those across West Tyrone whom I am now so proud to represent, I say this: whoever you are, whatever your sexuality and whatever the colour of your skin, Sinn Féin's message is clear. We see you, we hear you and we are committed to establishing a society built on rights and a society where everyone can live free from harassment. I urge Members to support the Bill's passage to the next stage.

1,361 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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