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

Debate contribution by Mr Timothy Gaston on 28 September 2026.

MLA: Mr Timothy Gaston
Party at the time: Traditional Unionist Voice
Date: 28 September 2026
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Private Members' Business
Heading: Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill: Second Stage
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5762791

Text

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. I will take your advice to move on at this hour. I will look at the medical exemption in clause 4, which raises further questions. The Bill exempts therapy provided by persons regulated by four specified bodies and acting within those bodies' professional standards. I take the Bill sponsor back to the point that the Bill offers no comparable protection for ministers, providers of pastoral care, counsellors or parents. I ask him why he made that conscious decision. If his intent, as he is trying to portray it in the Assembly, were genuine, that should have been put into the Bill as a safeguard. I know that the matter was raised with the Bill sponsor during the consultation. That is why I believe that he had his fingers in his ears and did not really listen to the concerns that were raised with him. There is no protection in the Bill for ministers, pastors, counsellors or parents. I trust that the Bill sponsor will take up that point.

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

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