Debate contribution: Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill: Second Stage
Debate contribution by Mr Eóin Tennyson on .
- MLA
- Mr Eóin Tennyson
- Party at the time
- Alliance Party
- Date
- 22 September 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Private Members' Business
- Heading
- Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill: Second Stage
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5741487
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I thank the Member for giving way. The "No right to claim trial by jury" clause has been raised a couple of times. I have already set out that I did not initiate that proposal: it came about as a result of engagement with the offences and penalties team in the Department of Justice, who advised that it would be proportionate to exclude cases in the Magistrate's Court from the right to claim trial by jury. That does not mean that offences that are tested in the Crown Court would not have a jury trial; the most serious offences always will. In this instance, we are talking about lower-level offending being tested in the Magistrate's Court. That is consistent with the approach to things such as domestic abuse and stalking, and so it is seen as proportionate in order to support the victim. The victim will still have a fair trial, in accordance with their Convention rights, as absolutely has to be the case with any criminal Bill that is passed in this Assembly. There is a risk when we pass any law in this Assembly of vexatious or unsubstantiated complaints. That is why there is a process to go through. The police will open an inquiry and then determine whether there is sufficient evidence to warrant an investigation. Then, they will decide whether there is sufficient evidence to go to the PPS. The PPS has an evidential test and a public interest test as to whether prosecution is necessary. Then you go to the court, where guilt has to be proven beyond all reasonable doubt. That is the criminal justice process. In respect of interpretation, it is not just my view that the courts interpret legislation. That is the judiciary's job. It is our job to write the legislation, and it is the judiciary's job to interpret it. It will have to have regard to things such as convention rights and the facts of individual cases. That is the job that the judiciary does every single day.
338 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.