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

Debate contribution by Mrs Diane Dodds on 22 September 2026.

MLA: Mrs Diane Dodds
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 5741498

Text

I thank the Member for giving way. You have talked about the issue of vexatious claims and the law being vague and not precise enough. However, there is also the issue of this law striking fear into people who are practising in a conventional therapist's way. I have quoted this interesting point a number of times —I still think that it is a really important quote — that a therapist must have the ability to question. A therapist must have the ability to ask hard questions. In fact, Stella O'Malley, in her contribution to and commentary on the Bill, says that not being able to do that will lead to really bad outcomes for some of those young people. She goes on to say that it will have a "chilling effect" on conventional therapy, with a fear that this "badly drafted legislation" will stop therapists taking on clients who are in gender distress. Similarly:
"Clergy must remain free to teach their faith’s beliefs about sex and marriage, and to counsel ... their congregations accordingly".
By that, she is saying that, when we talk about faith, faith is not just about how you feel. Faith is directive. It instructs you to live in a particular way. There are a range of people who will be caught under clause 4 of the Bill. I note — it is worth the sponsor of the Bill clarifying — that he has said that this clause on counselling, forms of talking therapy or coaching would only be in a formal setting, but that is not what the Bill says. The Bill only talks about:
"(a) counselling or any form of talking therapy, (b) coaching or instruction".
It does not talk about a formal setting.

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

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