Debate contribution: Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill: Extension of Committee Stage

Debate contribution by Mr Colm Gildernew on 19 October 2026.

MLA: Mr Colm Gildernew
Party at the time: Sinn Féin
Date: 19 October 2026
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Committee Business
Heading: Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill: Extension of Committee Stage
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5795457

Text

As Chair of the Committee for Communities, I seek the support of the House for the motion to extend the Committee Stage of the Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill until 29 January 2027. The Committee recognises the public interest that the Bill has generated. As the Second Stage debate demonstrated, there are strongly held and differing views on the issues that the Bill seeks to address. Careful, balanced and evidence-based scrutiny is therefore essential. Building on work undertaken before the Bill was referred following Second Stage, the Committee has commenced its detailed examination. It has received a substantial volume of written submissions from members of the public, professional bodies, faith groups, advocacy organisations, academics and other stakeholders, and it is examining the issues arising from written and oral evidence. The evidence raises questions about the scope of the proposed offences, their interaction with existing law and how the legislation would operate and be enforced. It also raises human rights issues, including freedom of religion or belief and expression, as well as parental rights and responsibilities, and safeguarding. Stakeholders have expressed differing views on whether the Bill, as drafted, balances protection from harmful practices with fundamental rights and freedoms. The Committee must consider those perspectives, scrutinise the provisions and examine the potential legal, policy and practical implications. There is therefore a substantial body of evidence to examine and a number of matters that require further exploration. The Committee also intends to engage further with the Bill sponsor and to consider comparative material from other jurisdictions. During Committee Stage, the Committee may choose to seek its own legal advice on particular aspects of the Bill before completing its clause-by-clause scrutiny. Members should know that the Committee gave careful thought to the length of the extension being sought. Some members considered that a longer period would be necessary; others emphasised the need to complete scrutiny in time for the Bill to have an opportunity to proceed through its remaining legislative stages during this mandate. The Committee was advised by Parliamentary Services officials that 29 January 2027 was the date that would offer the least risk to the remaining stages in the legislative process. Having weighed the competing considerations, the Committee agreed on the date of 29 January. Two members wished to have it recorded that they did not consider that that would allow enough time for adequate scrutiny of the Bill. The Committee recognises the importance of being transparent about the extent of its scrutiny. If there are particular aspects of the Bill that it considers it has not been able to examine as fully as it would wish, it can make that clear in its report to the Assembly. In the meantime, the Committee intends to make full use of the additional period, including through a number of extra meetings to take further evidence, consider the legal and policy questions in detail, undertake clause-by-clause scrutiny and report its considerations to the House. The extension reflects the scale of the task and the need to balance rigorous scrutiny with the practical constraints of the remaining legislative timetable. Given the substantial public interest in the Bill, the range of views that have been expressed and the importance of ensuring that any legislation introduced in the Assembly is subjected to rigorous examination, the Committee believes that an extension to 29 January is proportionate and justified. For all those reasons, on behalf of the Committee for Communities, I ask Members to support the extension of the Committee Stage of the Conversion Practices (Criminalisation) Bill until 29 January 2027.

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

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