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

Debate contribution by Mr Gordon Lyons on 28 September 2026.

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 5763053

Text

The Member and I have been blessed this evening in having a lack of interventions. Members may just be getting fed up with some of it. On that point, how is the Member assured that that would not be the case? How does he ensure that somebody in that circumstance cannot be considered to be a victim? What does that mean for some of this that may take place in a group setting? How big does the group need to be?
Would that conversation or so-called therapy need to take place between one person and a victim? When would multiple victims turn into a congregation, where, under the Bill, it would be impossible for there to be any victims?

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

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