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

Debate contribution by Mr Jonathan Buckley on 22 September 2026.

MLA: Mr Jonathan Buckley
Party at the time: Democratic Unionist Party
Date: 22 September 2026
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Private Members' Business
Heading: Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill: Second Stage
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5741293

Text

I thank the Member for giving way. I note that the Bill sponsor shakes his head in disgust when this is mentioned, yet, time and time again, he is unable to define the term that he wants to put in legislation. Clause 6 talks specifically about gender identity. The point that Mr Frew raises about children who may self-identify as an animal or an object can be dismissed and scorned, but the reason why it should not be dismissed outright, when the Bill sponsor cannot define it, is found when we look at the legal advice provided to the Christian Institute by Aidan O'Neill KC. He talks about the Bill operating on the basis of self-ID:
"A person's gender identity is what the person considers it to be, as is set out in clause 6(1)(a), whereas previous calls for legislation on self-ID ask that a person be able to gain a gender recognition certificate on the basis of self-identification. This Bill enables a person to demand affirmation from another on the basis of their self-identification at risk of criminal sanction."
Mr O'Neill KC argues that that is a much more expansive version of what was previously designed under gender self-ID. Mr Frew gave the example of the victim deciding what their gender identity is. That is what is in the Bill. It is therefore not unreasonable for my colleagues to ask how expansive that list is. If the Bill sponsor is not prepared to define it, how can anybody else? We are just going by the Bill. It has been left wide open to interpretation, because of its use of subjective terms that, ultimately, will lead to the criminalisation of parents.

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

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