Don't Hate, Debate! In Collaboration With Victim Support NI

Hello, hello, one and all! And welcome to this! A special event held in collaboration with Victim Support NI and hosted in the Crescent Arts Centre, titled Don't Hate, Debate!

In late 2025, it appeared that new hate crime legislation was likely to be tabled and debated in the NI Assembly, and Victim Support NI's position was that new legislation should be passed in order to better support victims. This event was held to explore the differing views on the topic and establish the best steps forward.

To that end two motions were debated, "This House Believes Hate Crime Legislation Is Not Fit For Purpose" and "This House Believes Communities Address Hate Crime Better Than The Criminal Justice System".

On the first motion, speaking for the Proposition were Beth Lynam, Lee Walker, and James Tourish, and speaking for the Opposition were Florence Dairo, Dhivyah Chandrasegaran, and Rosa Ivory.

On the second motion, speaking for the Proposition were Bakaer Noble, Nihal Bhatt, and Luke Coyle, and speaking for the Opposition were Maeve Gee, Mikayla Williams, and Rea Thien.

Timestamps as follows:

Debate one: This House Believes Hate Crime Legislation Is Not Fit For Purpose

(00:00:00) Order, order!

(00:00:00) Opening Remarks from the President, Daniel Devenney

(00:03:25) Rules of the Debate

(00:04:43) Vote of Prior Opinion

(00:05:49) Opening Remarks from the Guest Chair, Professor Kevin Brown

(00:06:44) Beth Lynam, First Prop

(00:12:59) Florence Dairo, First Opp

(00:19:43) Lee Walker, Second Prop

(00:26:45) Dhivyah Chandrasegaran, Second Opp

(00:34:24) James Tourish, Third Prop

(00:41:31) Rosa Ivory, Third Opp

(00:49:06) Questions from the House

(01:00:27) Closing Remarks from the President

(01:01:24) Closing Remarks from the Guest Chair, Professor Kevin Brown

(01:02:29) The Vote

(01:04:04) Inter-Debate Segue by Mandy McAuley

Debate two: This House Believes Communities Address Hate Crime Better Than The Criminal Justice System

(01:04:44) Second Motion

(01:05:17) Intro and Rules

(01:06:06) Vote of Prior Opinion

(01:06:59) Opening Remarks from the Guest Chair, Mandy McAuley

(01:07:28) Bakaer Noble, First Prop

(01:12:53) Maeve Gee, First Opp

(01:20:06) Nihal Bhatt, Second Prop

(01:27:10) Mikayla Williams, Second Opp

(01:33:31) Luke Coyle, Third Prop

(01:41:08) Rea Thien, Third Opp

(01:49:01) Questions from the House

(02:08:20) Closing Remarks from the Guest Chair, Mandy McAuley

(02:10:16) The Vote

(02:11:12) Closing Remarks from the President

(02:12:29) Meeting adjourned!

Thanks for listening!

This House Would Abolish The Monarchy

Hello, hello, one and all! And welcome to this! The eleventh ordinary meeting of the one hundred and seventy-seventh session of the Queen's University of Belfast Literary and Scientific Society! The House convened to discuss the motion, "This House Would Abolish The Monarchy".

Speaking for the Proposition were Maeve Gee, Emily Carter, Flynn Nugent, and Ella McMullin, and speaking for the Opposition were Tom McCormack, George Farnon, Elliot Dickie, and Beth Lynam.

Timestamps as follows:

(00:00:00) Order, order!

(00:03:28) President's Questions

(00:07:24) Private Members’ Business

(00:19:59) Minutes

(00:30:03) Rules of the Debate

(00:31:32) Vote of Prior Opinion

(00:32:41) Maeve Gee, First Prop

(00:40:13) Tom McCormack, First Opp

(00:48:25) Emily Carter, Second Prop

(00:52:51) George Farnon, Second Opp

(00:59:57) Flynn Nugent, Third Prop

(01:06:11) Elliot Dickie, Third Opp

(01:12:38) Ella McMullin, Fourth Prop

(01:20:02) Beth Lynam, Fourth Opp

(01:27:51) Questions from the House

(01:39:16) The Vote

(01:40:45) Announcements

(01:44:54) Meeting adjourned!

Thanks for listening!

Christmas Mini Debates 2025

Hello, hello, one and all! And welcome to this! The Christmas Party of the one hundred and seventy-seventh session of the Queen's University of Belfast Literary and Scientific Society! During a very festive visit to the House Bar on Botanic for Christmas Dinner, three motions were debated: "This House Believes Die Hard Is A Christmas Movie", "This House Regrets Christmas In November", and "This House Would Kill Santa".

On the first motion, speaking for the Proposition were Cormac Gallen, and Rea Thien, and speaking for the Opposition were Luke Collins, and Ella McMullin.

On the second motion, speaking for the Proposition were Ash Kaur, and Henry O'Riordan, and speaking for the Opposition were Daniel Devenney, and Jack Steele.

On the third motion, speaking for the Proposition were EJ Culleton, and Marc Ghaly, and speaking for the Opposition were Maeve Gee, and Oliver Eaton.

Timestamps as follows:

(00:00:00) Order, order!

(00:02:00) First Motion

(00:03:29) Cormac Gallen, First Prop

(00:06:58) Luke Collins, First Opp

(00:13:53) Rea Thien, Second Prop

(00:20:31) Ella McMullin, Second Opp

(00:26:05) The First Vote

(00:28:08) Second Motion

(00:29:05) Ash Kaur, First Prop

(00:32:32) Daniel Devenney, First Opp

(00:41:57) Henry O'Riordan, Second Prop

(00:52:44) Jack Steele, Second Opp

(01:02:56) The Second Vote

(01:04:14) Festive Banter

(01:07:09) Third Motion

(01:08:20) EJ Culleton, First Prop

(01:17:25) Maeve Gee, First Opp

(01:26:29) Marc Ghaly, Second Prop

(01:32:48) Oliver Eaton, Second Opp

(01:40:28) The Third Vote

(01:41:10) Meeting adjourned!

Thanks for listening!

This House Supports Complete Nuclear Disarmament

Hello, hello, one and all! And welcome to this! The tenth ordinary meeting of the one hundred and seventy-seventh session of the Queen's University of Belfast Literary and Scientific Society! This particular meeting was the annual Godkin Newcomers' Competition, and the House convened to discuss the motion, "This House Supports Complete Nuclear Disarmament".

Speaking for the Proposition were Zach Torley, Oliver Eaton, Ash Kaur, and Luke Coyle, and speaking for the Opposition were Marc Ghaly, Natanya Mordani, Nihal Bhatt, and William Browne.

Timestamps as follows:

(00:00:00) Order, order!

(00:01:20) President's Questions

(00:12:53) Private Members’ Business

(00:22:24) Minutes

(00:28:54) Introducing the Competitors and Judges

(00:30:15) Vote of Prior Opinion

(00:32:41) Rules of the Debate

(00:34:01) Zach Torley, First Prop

(00:38:56) Marc Ghaly, First Opp

(00:45:51) Oliver Eaton, Second Prop

(00:53:39) Natanya Mordani, Second Opp

(01:01:14) Ash Kaur, Third Prop

(01:08:33) Nihal Bhatt, Third Opp

(01:15:18) Luke Coyle, Fourth Prop

(01:23:11) William Browne, Fourth Opp

(01:31:48) Questions from the House

(01:44:43) The Vote

(01:48:34) Judges' Remarks

(01:52:29) The Results

(01:53:35) Announcements

(02:04:09) Meeting adjourned!

Thanks for listening!

This House Believes Beauty Is Pain

Hello, hello, one and all! And welcome to this! The ninth ordinary meeting of the one hundred and seventy-seventh session of the Queen's University of Belfast Literary and Scientific Society! This particular meeting was held in conjunction with the QUB Lore Society, and the House convened to discuss the motion, "This House Believes Beauty Is Pain".

Speaking for the Proposition and representing the Lore Society were Alysha Healy, Eilish Monaghan, Eniola Isaax, and David Martin, and speaking for the Opposition were Elizabeth Noble, Florence Dairo, Anya Saluja, and Emma Jane Culleton.

Timestamps as follows:

(00:00:00) Order, order!

(00:02:14) President's Questions

(00:06:51) Private Members’ Business

(00:19:51) Minutes

(00:29:05) Vote of Prior Opinion

(00:30:35) Rules of the Debate

(00:32:58) Alysha Healy, First Prop

(00:40:01) Elizabeth Noble, First Opp

(00:47:50) Eilish Monaghan, Second Prop

(00:54:33) Florence Dairo, Second Opp

(01:02:14) Eniola Isaax, Third Prop

(01:07:54) Anya Saluja, Third Opp

(01:14:41) David Martin, Fourth Prop

(01:20:17) Emma Jane Culleton, Fourth Opp

(01:28:07) Questions from the House

(01:34:53) The Vote

(01:38:12) Announcements

(01:45:19) Meeting adjourned!

Thanks for listening!

This House Would Love Thy Neighbour

Hello, hello, one and all! And welcome to this! The eighth ordinary meeting of the one hundred and seventy-seventh session of the Queen's University of Belfast Literary and Scientific Society! The House convened to discuss the motion, "This House Would Love Thy Neighbour".

Speaking for the Proposition were Reuben Cope, Chloe Cotton, Isabella Met, and Matthew Spratt, and speaking for the Opposition were Tom McCormack, George Farnon, Marc Ghaly, and Flynn Nugent.

Timestamps as follows:

(00:00:00) Order, order!

(00:02:05) President's Questions

(00:07:20) Private Members’ Business

(00:20:55) Minutes

(00:29:55) Vote of Prior Opinion

(00:31:27) Rules of the Debate

(00:33:06) Reuben Cope, First Prop

(00:39:15) Tom McCormack, First Opp

(00:46:59) Chloe Cotton, Second Prop

(00:54:08) George Farnon, Second Opp

(01:02:00) Isabella Met, Third Prop

(01:09:10) Marc Ghaly, Third Opp

(01:16:42) Matthew Spratt, Fourth Prop

(01:24:53) Flynn Nugent, Fourth Opp

(01:32:49) Questions from the House

(01:39:35) The Vote

(01:41:40) Announcements

(01:47:24) Meeting adjourned!

Thanks for listening!

This House Would Rather Be Feared Than Respected

Hello, hello, one and all! And welcome to this! The seventh ordinary meeting of the one hundred and seventy-seventh session of the Queen's University of Belfast Literary and Scientific Society! The House convened to discuss the motion, "This House Would Rather Be Feared Than Respected".

Speaking for the Proposition were Rosa Ivory, Luke Coyle, and James Tourish, and speaking for the Opposition were Luca Barsalini, Nihal Bhatt, and Cormac McEntee.

Timestamps as follows:

(00:00:00) Order, order!

(00:02:03) President's Questions

(00:09:14) Private Members’ Business

(00:23:07) Minutes

(00:31:36) Vote of Prior Opinion

(00:33:05) Rules of the Debate

(00:34:45) Rosa Ivory, First Prop

(00:42:41) Luca Barsalini, First Opp

(00:50:25) Luke Coyle, Second Prop

(00:58:02) Nihal Bhatt, Second Opp

(01:05:52) James Tourish, Third Prop

(01:12:41) Cormac McEntee, Third Opp

(01:20:52) Questions from the House

(01:26:53) The Vote

(01:28:28) Announcements

(01:33:35) Meeting adjourned!

Thanks for listening!

This House Supports A Single Unionist Party

Hello, hello, one and all! And welcome to this! The sixth ordinary meeting of the one hundred and seventy-seventh session of the Queen's University of Belfast Literary and Scientific Society! The House convened to discuss the motion, "This House Supports A Single Unionist Party".

The meeting was guest-chaired by Baroness Kate Hoey. Speaking for the Proposition were Peter Martin MLA, Jay Basra, Jeff Dudgeon MBE, and Grant Warren, and speaking for the Opposition were Timothy Gaston MLA, David Bingham, Moore Holmes, and Jack Steele.

Timestamps as follows:

(00:00:00) Order, order!

(00:01:23) President's Questions

(00:04:23) Private Members’ Business

(00:13:38) Minutes

(00:27:50) Vote of Prior Opinion

(00:29:32) Rules of the Debate

(00:31:52) Opening Remarks by Baroness Hoey, Guest Chair

(00:35:11) Peter Martin MLA, First Prop

(00:42:25) Timothy Gaston MLA, First Opp

(00:49:47) Jay Basra, Second Prop

(00:57:32) David Bingham, Second Opp

(01:05:15) Jeff Dudgeon MBE, Third Prop

(01:14:40) Moore Holmes, Third Opp

(01:23:31) Grant Warren, Fourth Prop

(01:30:55) Jack Steele, Fourth Opp

(01:39:04) Questions from the House

(01:50:58) The Vote

(01:52:58) Closing Remarks by Baroness Hoey, Guest Chair

(01:58:55) Announcements

(02:06:16) Meeting adjourned!

Thanks for listening!

This House Believes Masculinity Is Inherently Toxic

Hello, hello, one and all! And welcome to this! The fifth ordinary meeting of the one hundred and seventy-seventh session of the Queen's University of Belfast Literary and Scientific Society! The House convened to discuss the motion, "This House Believes Masculinity Is Inherently Toxic".

Speaking for the Proposition were Paul Cunningham, William Browne, Luella Coley, and Beth Lynam, and speaking for the Opposition were Luke Coyle, Brandon Foster, Marc Ghaley, and Ashkya Chan Kaur.

Timestamps as follows:

(00:00:00) Order, order!

(00:01:22) President's Questions

(00:07:50) Private Members’ Business

(00:20:01) Minutes

(00:35:07) Vote of Prior Opinion

(00:36:37) Rules of the Debate

(00:38:09) Paul Cunningham, First Prop

(00:45:25) Luke Coyle, First Opp

(00:52:52) William Browne, Second Prop

(01:00:49) Brandon Foster, Second Opp

(01:06:04) Luella Coley, Third Prop

(01:12:29) Marc Ghaley, Third Opp

(01:18:53) Beth Lynam, Fourth Prop

(01:26:27) Ashkya Chan Kaur, Fourth Opp

(01:33:38) Questions from the House

(01:40:11) The Vote

(01:42:05) Announcements

(01:47:50) Meeting adjourned!

Thanks for listening!