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

Debate contribution by Mr Eóin Tennyson on 28 September 2026.

MLA: Mr Eóin Tennyson
Party at the time: Alliance Party
Date: 28 September 2026
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Private Members' Business
Heading: Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill: Second Stage
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5762878

Text

I thank the Member for being generous in giving way. It is an important area, and I agree that it is worthy of scrutiny. The reasons that, during drafting, we included consideration of both what the alleged victim considers their sexual orientation or gender identity to be and what the accused considers those to be are, as the Member rightly identified, so that we can make out that the accused acted with intent, and so that we do not create a loophole whereby, after the fact, the accused says, "I didn't consider that person to be gay. I had no idea. Had I known, I would never have acted in that way". Giving the courts a framework where they have to have regard for both perspectives would allow the courts to come to a reasonable judgement.

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

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