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.
I thank the Bill sponsor for his contribution. There are a number of points on the back of that. I was also involved in proposals and the process around a Member's Bill, and I know that the correspondence and liaison with the Equality Commission and Human Rights Commission through that process is a tick-box exercise.…
I thank the Member for giving way. We have considered the convention rights in developing the Bill. We have received correspondence from the Equality Commission, and we have engaged with the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. We have looked at the equality assessments undertaken at pre-consultation stage by the…
Article 7 of the ECHR requires: "Criminal laws be sufficiently clear and foreseeable". That particular law falls into disrepute in clause 6, as well as in clauses 7, 8 and 9. I wonder whether the Bill sponsor has looked at that.
I thank my colleague for giving way. She has made an excellent point about the drafting. Does she agree with a quote from Baroness Noakes, who is much more learned than I am? In the House of Lords, in 2024, she said that, for new law: "There needs to be clear evidence of a problem, legislation has to be necessary to…
I thank the Member for giving way. The debate has evolved: at the beginning, we said that there were unintended consequences, but those are starting to feel very much like they are intended. I cannot get away from that fact, because I have not received any clarity on the loose, subjective language that the Member has…
Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I am disappointed by the tone that has been set by the world according to Alliance. The Bill causes me great concern as an MLA, a private individual, a mother of teenagers and, quite frankly, in every capacity of my existence. I have received large volumes of correspondence on the matter…
No problem. If I heard her correctly, Mrs Erskine listed same-sex attraction and, as has just been mentioned, autism with mental health conditions. I want to clarify that she did not mean to list same-sex attraction with mental health conditions.
Given the point that was just raised by Miss McAllister as a point of order and the comments that were made by Ms Bradshaw in the previous debate, I just think that some of the contributions from the Alliance MLAs, digging at us, calling me "devious" and trying to make inferences and misrepresent my colleague, are…
On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. I tried to intervene, as did my colleagues, when the last Member was speaking. I do not think that she meant this, but it is really important to put on the record that autism is not a mental health issue. That is what she said. I do not think that she meant it, but she perhaps…
I agree. The Bill goes beyond even the Gender Recognition Act 2004. I know that the Women's Rights Network has been mentioned, but I mention it again and will read into the record what it said. The Women's Rights Network is correct in saying: "Violent and coercive attempts to change a person's sexual orientation are…
The reason why it and clause 6 especially are so dangerous is not only in what we have just talked about regarding gender identity but that the Bill sponsor pushes the definition of "sexual orientation" further than it goes in any other setting in law. Clause 6(2) states: "A reference to a victim’s sexual orientation"…
Absolutely. Members may shake their heads at that, but this is what we are trying to drill down into; it is scrutiny of the legislation. The legislation will have to fly when it goes outside these doors, as I continually say, and the courts will have to look at and make a judgement call on this. In an intervention…
I thank the Member for giving way. We do not make light of the circumstances that anybody finds themselves in. However, it would be remiss — in fact, it would be negligent — if Members did not highlight some of the issues that are part of real, live debate. The interesting part is that we are clear on gender, male and…
FlaggedGender, sexuality, abortion and related social issuesCriteria met: Sectarian or communal antagonism, Dog-whistle messaging.
Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I have not made light of any situation. What we are trying to get to is the core of clause 6, which is the fact — it is a fact because you have put it in your Bill — that "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" include what the victim considers that to be and what the person considers…