Every imported question, contribution and motion, with its classification. Unflagged, uncertain and not-yet-analysed records are all included so the analysis can be checked independently.
Yes, I agree with the Member. That experience is valuable, and we can see what has happened elsewhere. On that point, we need to be careful when some Members say, "Oh, they have Bills like this in Malta" or other countries. Yes, they do, but not all of those are drafted the same. Some of the concerns are specific to…
I thank the Minister for hearing me and for his commitment to this. It has been a very long debate, and I really thank him for listening to it all and being here. The Minister mentioned the breadth and depth of feeling — let me call it "the diversity of feeling" — on the Bill, and he cited some evidence of that. My…
Does the Minister agree that, whatever Members in other parties say, a substantial number of people who do not want to cause offence to anyone will always believe that your gender is your biological sex. People might want to live their private lives in whatever way they wish, but, when it comes to public policy and…
I am grateful to the Member for the intervention. He obviously disagrees with my interpretation of the Bill, and he obviously disagrees with my interpretation of my interpretation of the Bill as well. We have been over that a few times, but I still believe on the basis of what is written in front of us that, if the…
I thank the Minister for giving way. The Minister and I have talked at length about clause 4 and the clarity that can be provided for parents and all of those things. However, even taking the Minister's interpretation of clause 4 as written, there is clearly an overriding intent around the child's welfare — I do not…
I am glad that the Member has acknowledged that that reassurance needs to be given. I recognise his other point as well, but I will come to that shortly. Of course, this is all about definitions. What does it mean to intend to suppress or change someone's gender identity? We have been over, time and again, what that…
I thank the Minister for giving way. That is an important point regarding the tests that are added in the Bill, given that the provision is being applied in a different context. He noted that, in domestic abuse legislation, there is no requirement for there to be intent; it can be simply that the behaviour was likely…
I will not ask her to go to the Back Benches and make it again, because I get her point. We have heard it in here time and time again, and there have almost been guffaws and an attitude of, "A judge would never do that". First, we will have to wait and see what is in the legislation, because that is what a judge would…
I thank the Minister for giving way. As he knows, there is significant concern and apprehension about the Bill and understandably so. I find it to be one of the most extraordinarily dangerously drafted pieces of legislation, given what it could do. It is incredibly important that there be certainty. The Minister has…
I thank all Members who have contributed to the debate over the past couple of days, or is it weeks? I have genuinely lost track. It has been a useful debate, however. We have been able to tease out issues, and having that time has allowed Members to consider some of the issues that have been raised. Before I go any…
I thank the Member for giving way again. Does the Member recognise that this type of Bill has been proposed at Westminster? Parliament has been working on it for somewhere between six and eight years but has not been able to come up with an answer, such is the controversy. Is the Member concerned about the length of…
I thank the Member for giving way. She has outlined much of the detail of the Bill. Does she agree that, regardless of where we end up with the Bill, given its ambiguity and all the uncertainties, questions and concerns that are out there, should the Bill be enacted, it would cause a huge chilling effect, not just for…
I thank the Member. I understand why people are asking about the wording and how it could be relied upon as a statutory definition or recognition of self-declared gender identity. I do not think that that is the policy objective of the Bill, but there is uncertainty there. The Bill sponsor needs the law to protect…
I thank the Member for being generous in giving way. It is an important area, and I agree that it is worthy of scrutiny. The reasons that, during drafting, we included consideration of both what the alleged victim considers their sexual orientation or gender identity to be and what the accused considers those to be…
I thank the Bill sponsor for outlining that intention, but, to go back to my earlier comments, the wording has to reflect that so that we can feel confident that the Bill would not create that unintended consequence. Certainly, if the Bill passes Second Stage this evening, the Committee will need to focus on why that…
I thank the Member for giving way and for raising that point. As the Bill sponsor, I have found her contribution so far to be insightful and constructive, and it has been useful for me to listen to her views. On that particular point, the Member is right that an exception for under-16s exists in domestic abuse law.…
I support the Bill at Second Stage. I support the general principle that people should not be subjected to harmful practices intended to change or suppress their sexual orientation or gender identity. I have concerns that I will speak to, but I believe that the Bill can address those concerns within its existing scope…
It is South Antrim. Thank you. I appreciate the Member's giving way again. He referred to objections to the Bill as homophobic and transphobic: I am neither of those things. I was able to quote, when I spoke previously in the debate, from the ongoing conversations that I have with my trans woman friend — a man who…
I thank the Member for giving way. Does he not understand that the crimes that he mentioned are already covered in law and by much harsher sentences, should they be proved, than the Bill would allow?