Motion

Conversion Practices

Motion TitleConversion Practices

Motion TextThat this Assembly deplores that harmful and damaging conversion practices are still legal in Northern Ireland; recognises that conversion practices can take many forms and can occur in a variety of settings; notes the findings from the May 2024 publication, A Study of Conversion Practices in Northern Ireland, by Professor Fidelma Ashe and Dr Danielle Mackle; reaffirms its support for a ban on conversion practices in all forms; and calls on the Minister for Communities to commit to bringing forward legislation on an effective ban on conversion practices before the end of the current Assembly mandate.

Motion CategoryPrivate Members' Motion

Motion TypeOpposition business

Date Tabled to Business Office21/05/2024

Date Selected By Committee21/05/2024

Date of Plenary Debate04/06/2024

View Official Report

Tabled By

Member Name	Tabled As
Mr Matthew O'Toole	MLA - South Belfast

Bills

Outcome/Voting

66 Members voted

41 Members voted AYE

25 Members voted NO

The Motion Was Carried, Simple Majority Lobby Division

MLA Name	Designation	Voted
Mr Jim Allister KC	Unionist	NO
Dr Caoimhe Archibald	Nationalist	AYE
Mr Danny Baker	Nationalist	AYE
Mr John Blair	Other	AYE
Mr Cathal Boylan	Nationalist	AYE
Mr Maurice Bradley	Unionist	NO
Ms Paula Bradshaw	Other	AYE
Mr Phillip Brett	Unionist	NO
Miss Nicola Brogan	Nationalist	AYE
Mr David Brooks	Unionist	NO
Ms Cheryl Brownlee	Unionist	NO
Mr Keith Buchanan	Unionist	NO
Mr Tom Buchanan	Unionist	NO
Mr Jonathan Buckley	Unionist	NO
Ms Joanne Bunting	Unionist	NO
Mrs Pam Cameron	Unionist	NO
Mr Gerry Carroll	Other	AYE
Mr Trevor Clarke	Unionist	NO
Mr Pádraig Delargy	Nationalist	AYE
Mr Stewart Dickson	Other	AYE
Mrs Linda Dillon	Nationalist	AYE
Mrs Diane Dodds	Unionist	NO
Mr Danny Donnelly	Other	AYE
Mr Stephen Dunne	Unionist	NO
Mr Alex Easton	Unionist	NO
Ms Sorcha Eastwood	Other	AYE
Ms Connie Egan	Other	AYE
Mrs Sinéad Ennis	Nationalist	AYE
Mrs Deborah Erskine	Unionist	NO
Mrs Ciara Ferguson	Nationalist	AYE
Ms Diane Forsythe	Unionist	NO
Mr Paul Frew	Unionist	NO
Mr Paul Givan	Unionist	NO
Miss Deirdre Hargey	Nationalist	AYE
Mr Harry Harvey	Unionist	NO
Mr David Honeyford	Other	AYE
Mr William Irwin	Unionist	NO
Mr Gerry Kelly	Nationalist	AYE
Ms Liz Kimmins	Nationalist	AYE
Mr Brian Kingston	Unionist	NO
Mrs Naomi Long	Other	AYE
Mr Gordon Lyons	Unionist	NO
Mr Declan McAleer	Nationalist	AYE
Miss Nuala McAllister	Other	AYE
Mr Daniel McCrossan	Nationalist	AYE
Mr Colin McGrath	Nationalist	AYE
Mr Philip McGuigan	Nationalist	AYE
Miss Michelle McIlveen	Unionist	NO
Ms Sinéad McLaughlin	Nationalist	AYE
Mr Andrew McMurray	Other	AYE
Mr Peter McReynolds	Other	AYE
Mrs Cathy Mason	Nationalist	AYE
Mr Gary Middleton	Unionist	NO
Mr Andrew Muir	Other	AYE
Ms Sian Mulholland	Other	AYE
Miss Áine Murphy	Nationalist	AYE
Ms Carál Ní Chuilín	Nationalist	AYE
Ms Kate Nicholl	Other	AYE
Mr John O'Dowd	Nationalist	AYE
Mr Matthew O'Toole	Nationalist	AYE
Ms Aisling Reilly	Nationalist	AYE
Mr Alan Robinson	Unionist	NO
Mr Pat Sheehan	Nationalist	AYE
Ms Emma Sheerin	Nationalist	AYE
Ms Claire Sugden	Unionist	AYE
Mr Eóin Tennyson	Other	AYE

Amendments

Selected Amendments

Number	Tabled Date	Amendment Text
1	31/05/2024	Leave out all after ‘That this Assembly’ and insert: ‘recognises that harmful and damaging conversion practices can take place in Northern Ireland; notes that conversion practices can take many forms and can occur in a variety of settings; acknowledges the findings from the May 2024 publication, A Study of Conversion Practices in Northern Ireland, by Professor Fidelma Ashe and Dr Danielle Mackle; further recognises that where an individual voluntarily wishes and actively seeks prayerful and pastoral support, this should not be withheld from them, and as such this does not constitute a conversion practice; and calls on the Minister for Communities to consult widely on the way ahead, including relevant legislative options, to ban the practice of conversion therapy but to also ensure legal safeguards are in place to protect freedom of religion and freedom of speech.’

Other Amendments Tabled

Tabled Date	Amendment Text
28/05/2024	Leave out all after ‘Dr Danielle Mackle;’ and insert: ‘endorses its recommendations including enabling victims of conversion practices to access support easily, increasing public awareness of the damaging effects of conversion practices, and ensuring training is available to the relevant agencies where appropriate; and calls on the Minister for Communities to bring forward legislation to deliver an inclusive and comprehensive ban on conversion practices in all forms before the end of the current Assembly mandate and to publish the LGBTQI+ Strategy without further delay’

Tabled Date

Amendment Text

28/05/2024

Leave out all after ‘Dr Danielle Mackle;’ and insert: ‘endorses its recommendations including enabling victims of conversion practices to access support easily, increasing public awareness of the damaging effects of conversion practices, and ensuring training is available to the relevant agencies where appropriate; and calls on the Minister for Communities to bring forward legislation to deliver an inclusive and comprehensive ban on conversion practices in all forms before the end of the current Assembly mandate and to publish the LGBTQI+ Strategy without further delay’

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