Debate contribution: Age Discrimination (Goods, Facilities and Services) Bill: Second Stage

Debate contribution by Ms Claire Sugden on 20 October 2026.

MLA: Ms Claire Sugden
Party at the time: Independent
Date: 20 October 2026
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Private Members' Business
Heading: Age Discrimination (Goods, Facilities and Services) Bill: Second Stage
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5798721

Text

I appreciate the Member raising that point. I had an example of what she is describing in my constituency. I raised the issue of osteoporosis care and the level of service that is provided in the Northern Health and Social Care Trust. I put it to the former Health Minister that, potentially, we were discriminating on the basis of sex and age. However, the only opportunity for redress was on the basis of sex rather than age. The indirect discrimination in that circumstance will be covered in the Bill, because osteoporosis tends to affect older women in particular. That even links to the conversations that I have had on the women's health strategy: some of the contraceptive health methods that we recommend to 16-year-old girls could have an impact on their health when they are in their 60s because they deteriorate the bones, which is, obviously, what osteoporosis is. There is an opportunity, through the Bill, to look at policy more widely and how we approach it, recognising people's age. I appreciate the Member mentioning that, because it is entirely relevant. I hope that the Bill will be able to capture that.

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

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