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 5707097

Text

I appreciate the Member giving way on that point because, for me, it is one of the single biggest issues in the Bill that is yet to be resolved. The Bill sponsor was very clear earlier: in his view, there must be "a formal course of therapy". That is not what is in the Bill. Maybe it was the Member's intention for the Bill to read:
"(a) counselling or any form of talking therapy, and (b) coaching or instruction, and (c) a treatment or purported treatment".
Had that language been used, what the Member said earlier would have been correct. However, in the absence of that language, he is wrong in saying that that only applies to "a formal course of therapy", because nowhere in the Bill is that found.

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

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