Llywydd, yn gyntaf hoffwn ddymuno gwellhad buan i Rhodri Morgan. Rydym i gyd, rwy’n siŵr, yn gobeithio y bydd Rhodri yn ôl gyda’i ddyletswyddau ymhen fawr o dro.
Mae hwn yn ddatganiad hanesyddol i ni fel Plaid ac i mi’n bersonol.
Mae derbyn y swydd o Ddirprwy Brif Weinidog ac felly ymuno â llywodraeth y Cynulliad yn fraint ac yn anrhydedd fawr. Yma i wasanaethu pobl Cymru yr ydan ni, ac yr wyf am wneud hynny hyd orau fy ngallu. Diolch i’m cyd aelodau o’r ddwy blaid sy’n ffurfio llywodraeth am eu hymddiriedaeth ynof.
Dyma’r tro cyntaf i Blaid Cymru fod mewn llywodraeth ers ffurfio’r Blaid 82 o flynyddoedd yn ôl i’r mis nesaf! Mae hi wedi bod yn ffordd hir. Rôl y blaid hyd yma yw wedi bod yn wrthblaid i roi pwysau ar y pleidiau eraill i symud pethau yn eu blaenau dros Gymru. O heddiw ymlaen byddwn yn rhannu cyfrifoldeb i weithredu’n uniongyrchol ar ran pobl Cymru. Dwi’n edrych ymlaen yn fawr at yr her.
Yn dilyn yr etholiad fy ddywedais y byddwn am gymryd rhan mewn trafodaethau a fyddai’n arwain at ffurfio llywodraeth flaengar a sefydlog, ac a fyddai’n gwasanaethu pobl Cymru am bedair blynedd. Mae’r trafodaethau gyda’r Blaid Lafur a chynnwys y ddogfen Cymru’n Un wedi cyflawni’r amcanion rheini. Wedi’r trafod, 9 wythnos ohonynt, mae’n amser cyflawni. Dyma yw’r bwriad o heddiw ymlaen.
Bydd y llywodraeth yn amlinellu ei blaenoriaethau’n fuan gan ganolbwyntio ar yr addewidion polisi sydd yn y ddogfen Cymru’n Un. Bydd y rhain yn cynnwys y gwasanaeth iechyd, addysg, tai, yr economi, yr amgylchedd, yr iaith Gymraeg ac ati. Rhaglen gynhwysfawr, gyda strategaeth glir a nod amlwg - sef i wasanaethu pobl Cymru lle bynnag mae nhw’n byw, o le bynnag mae nhw’n dod, beth bynnag yw eu cefndir a’u tras. Mae Cymru yn genedl eangfrydig a goddefgar - a dyma’r gwerthoedd fydd y llywodraeth yn ei goleddu.
Mae rôl bwysig i’r gwrthbleidiau hefyd. Bydd Nick Bourne yn cymryd drosodd fel Arweinydd yr Wrthblaid a dymunaf yn dda iddo. Bum innau yn gweithredu yn y swydd honno am yn agos i 7 mlynedd. Mi all fod yn swydd rwystredig ar brydiau, dwi’n fodlon cydnabod hynny nawr. Ond mae yna gyfrifoldebau pwysig hefyd, i alw’r llywodraeth i gyfrif ac i scriwtineiddio ein gweithredoedd.
Mae rôl yr wrthblaid, wrth gwrs, yn holl bwysig yn y sefyllfa sydd ohoni. Mae hwn yn fath newydd o lywodraeth i’r Cynulliad, un gyda mwyafrif mawr. Wedi dweud hynny, rydw i’n awyddus iawn i weld y llywodraeth newydd yn ymddwyn mewn modd aeddfed gyda chonsensws yn elfen ganolog iddo. Dwi am weld yr ysbryd ôl-etholiadol, o drafodaethau cadarnhaol ymysg y pleidiau yn parhau drwy gydol y Trydydd Cynulliad. Mae’n siŵr y bydd yna adegau o wahaniaeth barn glir ynglŷn â chyfeiriad y llywodraeth, ond mawr hyderaf, yn sgil y trafodaethau yn ystod yr wythnosau diwethaf byddwn yn gallu cydweithio mewn sawl maes. Mae rôl bwysig gan bob plaid yn y Cynulliad i sicrhau bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn gweithredu er budd holl bobl Cymru.
Hoffwn estyn gwahoddiad agored, yn wir, i bobl Cymru gymryd rhan flaenllaw yn y llywodraeth newydd. Llywodraeth pobl Cymru ydym ni, a chyfrifoldeb unrhyw lywodraeth yw gweithredu er lles pobl Cymru yn hytrach nag ar sail hunanol a phleidiol. Bydd y llywodraeth hon yn gwneud ei orau i ddechrau oes a steil newydd o wleidydda yng Nghymru. Mae llwyddiant hynny yn ddibynnol ar i bawb yn y Cynulliad gydweithio yn adeiladol.
Presiding Officer, firstly I would like to wish Rhodri Morgan a quick recovery. I’m sure that we all wish to see Rhodri back in his role soon.
This is a historic statement for us as a Party and for me personally. Accepting the role of Deputy First Minister and therefore becoming a part of the Assembly Government is a great honour. We are here to serve the people of Wales, and I aim to do that to the best of my ability. I would like to thank my fellow members from both parties who form the government for their trust in me.
This is the first time that Plaid Cymru has been in government since the Party was formed 82 years ago last month. It has been a long journey. The Party’s role so far has been one of the opposition party which put pressure on the other parties to move things forward for the benefit of Wales. From today we will be sharing the responsibility of directly operating on behalf of the people of Wales. I am looking forward to the challenge.
After the election I stated that I wanted to participate in discussions that would lead to creating an innovative and stable government, that would serve the people of Wales for four years. The discussions with the Labour Party and the content of the document One Wales has achieved those objectives. After 9 weeks of discussions it is time to deliver. That is the aim from today onwards.
The government will be outlining its priorities soon, which will concentrate on the policy promises described in One Wales. These will include the health service, education, housing, the economy, the environment, the Welsh language and so on. A comprehensive programme, with a clear and evident strategy – to serve the people of Wales wherever they live, wherever they come from, whatever their background and origin. Wales is a broadminded and tolerant nation – and these are the values which the government will harbour.
The opposition parties will also have an important role. Nick Bourne will be taking over as Leader of the Opposition and I wish him well. I operated in that role for nearly 7 years. It can be a very frustrating role at times, I’m willing to recognise that now. However it also encompasses important responsibilities, namely to call the government to account and to scrutinize our actions.
Of course, the role of the opposition party is extremely important given the current situation. This is a new kind of government for the Assembly, one with a large majority. Having said that, I am very eager to see the new government acting in a mature way with consensus as a core element. I want to see the post electoral spirit, of positive discussions between the parties, continuing throughout the Third Assembly. I’m sure that there will be a clear difference of opinion at times about the direction of the government, but I truly hope that the discussions over the past few weeks will enable us to co-operate in several fields. Every party within the Assembly has an important role which is to ensure that the Government of Wales acts for the benefit of the people of Wales.
I would like to extend an open invitation to the people of Wales to play a prominent part in the new government. We are the government of the people of Wales, and any government’s role is to act for the benefit of the people of Wales rather than on a selfish and party level. This government will endeavour to start a new age and a new style of politics in Wales. It’s success will only be achieved by constructive co-operation amongst all in the Assembly.
Every politician in this Assembly seeks office to serve our nation to the best of his or her ability. It is the greatest honour we face as representatives of the people. We want to make the Assembly Government work for Wales and that requires stability. The historic ‘One Wales’ agreement between Plaid Cymru and Labour offers a new hope for the people of Wales. A progressive programme of government that will make a difference in every part of our nation - that will work in the pursuit of the common good.
Briefly I would like to outline the exciting and forward looking policies the ‘One Wales’ Government will deliver.
Health care in Wales will follow a distinct public service delivery model. We will create a new national institute of health research; refocus dental services; develop a rural health plan which considers the unique circumstances of our rural communities. We will review NHS reconfiguration and changes to our District General Hospitals will not be implemented until relevant associated community health services are in place.
The Government will introduce an all Wales approach to economic development supported by an all Wales green jobs strategy. Specific attention will be given to some of our poorest communities. We will explore options for a public sector investment, and small businesses will be aided by enhancing the business rate relief scheme.
In Education the ‘One Wales’ Government will continue to develop a distinctive curriculum that is appropriate for Wales. We will commit to progressing provision of universal, affordable childcare prioritising areas of greatest need.
The ‘One Wales’ Government will place the environment at the heart of its agenda.
Across the range of devolved responsibilities the Government will seek to safeguard and strengthen the Welsh language.
In Housing the Government will aim to increase the number of affordable homes and invest in new social housing. We will also seek legislative responsibility to suspend ‘Right to Buy’ in areas of housing pressure.
We will look after the neediest in our communities by providing extra help for pensioners with Council tax payments; we will refocus and reinstate the Post Office Development Fund.
In Transport the Government will invest to improve road links and work to reduce rail travel times between north and south. We will support new local bus and cycle routes. We will work to promote safer routes to schools.
This third Assembly now brings together a new partnership based on the progressive traditions which have been at the heart of our nation’s politics for over a century, and offers the best hope for stable governance over the next four years. It is the deepest honour for me to be appointed Deputy First Minister and for Plaid Cymru in partnership with Labour to serve the people of Wales in Government. I am looking forward to it.
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