Debate contribution: Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill: Second Stage
Debate contribution by Mr Gordon Lyons on .
- MLA
- Mr Gordon Lyons
- Party at the time
- Democratic Unionist Party
- Date
- 28 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 5762793
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I am grateful to the Member for giving way. There is another issue that the Bill sponsor needs to address when considering to whom the Bill applies. We have talked about the freedom that a minister, a pastor or whoever may have at the pulpit to express certain views. During the debate at some stage last week, it was implied that the provision would not apply to someone speaking in front of a crowd, because there would not be an identifiable victim. That, I believe, was the view that Mr Tennyson took. My reading of the Bill, however, suggests that the victim just needs to have been there and to have felt as though there was a suppression or an intent to suppress. If the person felt "fear, alarm or distress", that could fall under the category of "instruction" in clause 4. I do not believe that it is Mr Tennyson's intention to include that, because he has said in the House that it is not his intention for something such as that to be included. We need to be able to understand that from reading what is in front of us in black and blue, however. If the Bill progresses to Committee Stage, as, we all accept, it will, that is another issue that will need clarity. On the face of it, however, that factor would bring the issue within the scope of clause 4.
236 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Awaiting analysis
This record has not been analysed yet. It is not counted in any total until it has been assessed.
Disagree with this assessment?
Classifications can be challenged. A person reviews every challenge, and any change is recorded publicly above with its reason.