The 'diplomatic' AM for South Wales West

I am still in the Assembly's plenary session, and it will be extended until 6pm tonight. Of course, its vital that we discuss issues as AM's, but for those of us who are not allocated to contribute on debates at certain times of the session, it can be quite a long stint in the chamber!! I think there has to be more emphasis on the Assembly's external communications department to encourage a growth in the number of people who choose to attend the plenary sessions, and encourage interest in the debates here at the Assembly. Personally, I have contributed a number of new, innovative ideas for this purpose, and I hope that Dafydd Elis Thomas and his team will implement them in due course.

I have raised questions on the funding of the One Wales Government agreement today at the Senedd so as to ensure that the Government priorities are implemented and that we are seen as a Government to be delivering on our promises. Nick Bourne quipped in that my comment was coded and diplomatic. I have never been described as 'diplomatic' before, so I take it as a compliment!!!

I have also contributed in the questioning of the Education Minister, Jane Hutt, with regards the Government's grants for school uniforms, and the way in which it should be implemented so as not to conflict with the grants currently implemented by Local Authorities.

Tomorrow, the Equal Opportunities Committee will sit at the Assembly. We will discuss the establishment of a Children's committee at the Assembly- a committee which I deem as being essential so as to look at how our policies and measures affect children across the board. We will also be discussing a review of polling stations and their accessibility for disabled people, as well as the proposal of a scrutiny committee on Migrant workers in Wales. All very interesting issues, and which I will blog on in greater detail at a later date.

Plaid backbenchers and the new Assembly term

Back at the Assembly today for the launch of the new Equal Opportunities body in Wales. As I sit on the Equal Opportunities Committee I will be keeping a keen eye on developments in this area, specifically with regards the work performed by the offices in Wales, and the location of such offices. Making sure that there is a smooth transformation from one body to another is also a key priority for the new organisation, notwithstanding the important policy areas which they need to tackle, alongside the Assembly, of course!

Tomorrow I have a full diary of events and meetings, which also includes an event sponsored by Dafydd Elis Thomas to celebrate 10 years of devolution. I will blog on this in more detail on the anniversary itself.

Tomorrow is also when our first plenary session of the year takes place. Ieuan Wyn Jones has already taken questions as Minister, but this term will see the real affects of Plaid in Government, and its affect on us as a Party. I am looking forward to my role as a backbencher- scrutinising and monitoring the work of the Government. I certainly hope that I will have more to say than ‘Will the Minister agree that…..’ at every session!!

On another note entirely, it seems that the Lib dems are preparing for a leadership contest. I of course have no intention of endorsing any one politician, but what I will say is that I think that Kirsty Williams was unfairly treated during the whole discussion on forming a Government and that this shouldn’t rule her out entirely from any said leadership race. If I was her, I would bide my time, nevertheless, but she should be given fair play.

In other news, I notice that David Collins, Ann Jones’s researcher has resigned. I can only say that it was the appropriate action considering his total disregard of the importance of the Welsh language, and those who speak the language.

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Nol I’r Cynulliad heddiw ar gyfer lansiad y corff Cyfleoedd Cyfartal newydd yng Nghymru. Gan fy mod I’n eistedd ar y pwyllgor Cyfleoedd Cyfartal, byddaf yn cadw golwg ar ddatblygiadau’r corff newydd hwn, yn enwedig yng nghyd destun y gwaith fydd yn cael ei wneud o’r swyddfa yng Nghymru yn benodol, yn ogystal a safle daearyddol y swyddfeydd. Mi fydd gwneud yn siwr bod yna esblygiad naturiol I rol newydd y sefydliad yn bwysig iawn, heb son am bwysigrwydd blaenoriaethau polisi.

Fory, mae gen I ddyddiadur llawn o ddigwyddiadau a chyfarfodydd, sydd hefyd yn cynnwys digwyddiad yn enw Dafydd Elis Thomas yn dathlu 10 mlynedd o ddatganoli. Byddaf yn blogio mwy am hyn yn y man.

Fory fydd y sesiwn llawn cyntaf ar lawr y Cynulliad hefyd. Fe wnaeth Ieuan Wyn Jones cymryd cwestiynnau fel Gweinidog cyn ddiwedd y tymor diwethaf, ond nawr mae’r gwaith yn dechrau go iawn! Rwy’n edrych ymlaen I’n rol newydd ar y meinciau cefn, ac at y cyfle I scriwtineiddio’r Gweinidogion. Rwy’n fawr obeithio y byddaf yn gallu dweud mwy na ‘A fydd y Gweinidog yn cytuno….’ ymhob sesiwn!!

Ar nodyn arall, mae’n rhagweld fod y Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol yn paratoi at gael rhas arweinyddol cyn hir. Wrth gwrs, does gen I ddim bwriad rhoi fy marn ar bwy ddylai arwain y grwp hynny, ond un peth ddweda I yw bod Kirsty Williams wedi cael amser galed iawn o ran feirniadaeth o’I rol yn rhan o drafodaethau’r Llywodraeth, ac ni ddylir hwn wir cael effaith ar ei chyfleoedd fel arweinydd. Os mai fi oedd Kirsty, byddaf yn aros am ychydig cyn rhoi fy enw ymlaen, ond dyle hi, fel pawb arall, cael chwarae teg.

Mewn newyddion arall, rwy’n gweld bod David Collins wedi ymddiswyddo fel ymchwilydd Ann Jones ers ei sylwadau yn pardduo’r iaith gymraeg. Y cyfan weda I yw fy mod I’n cytuno mai dyma’r weithred gorau iddo gymryd o ystyried ei feirniadaeth o’r iaith gymraeg, a’r rheiny sy’n medru’r iaith.

SNP decision while Wales plays the waiting game.

English to follow below


Llongyfarchiadau mawr i'r SNP heddiw am sefydlu Llywodraeth yn yr Alban. Er ei fod yn lywodraeth lleiafrifol, rwy'n gobeithio'n fawr y fedrir yr SNP cyflwyno newidiadau radical i wleidyddiaeth yr Alban. Wrth gwrs, mae hyn yn dibynnu ar ewyllys da cefnogaeth y pleidiau eraill, ond mi fydd yn ddiddorol iawn dilyn hynt a helynt y Senedd yn yr Alban.

Dros y ffin yma yng Nghymru, mae'r trafodaethau dal yn digwydd. Mae'r wasg yn erfyn am stori mae arna i ofn. Mi oedd 3 camera BBC yn ein cyfarfod grwp y bore ma! Roedd darllediad y BBC tamaid bach yn cam arweiniol hefyd, gan honi heddiw bod y Glymblaid Enfys yn edrych yn fwy o bosibiliad. Y ffaith yw nad yw'r glymblaid hwn ar lefel uwch neu llai na'r trafodaethau am yr opsiynau eraill ar hyn o bryd.

Rwy'n edrych ymlaen at gael y penderfyniad, beth bynnag yw hwnnw, gan fod pethau yn ddi-symud braidd nes bod Llywodraeth yn cael ei ffurfio. Fel dywedodd Dafydd Ellis Thomas yr wythnos hwn, dyw'r sefyllfa ddim yn 'creisis', na chwaith yn 'stalemate' fel a dywedodd Nick Speed yn ei darn ar newyddion HTV heno. Mae hwn yn benderfyniad mor bwysig i bob Plaid fel na fedrwn rhuthro mewn i dim heb pwyso a mesur pob opsiwn yn glir, ond byddech yn falch o wybod mod i wedi dod i benderfyniad. Er nad wyf am ei rhannu yma eto wrth gwrs!

Am y tro, fe a i ati i agor pentwr o ohebiaeth rwyf wedi derbyn ers Mai y 3ydd!

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A big congratulations to the SNP for announcing today that they will form a Government in Scotland. Even though it shall be a minority Government, I hope that the SNP can succeed in introducing radical changes that will benefit Scotland. Of course this depends somewhat on the good will and support of the opposition parties, but it will be very interesting to watch how the political scene develops in Scotland.

Over the border here in Wales, negotiations are still taking place. I fear that the press are by now desperate for a story. There were 3 BBC cameras at our group meeting today! I thought that their news coverage was a little bit misleading tonight as well, as it suggested that a Rainbow coalition was now much more likely than it was previously. The fact of the matter is that this option still holds the same ground as the other options on the table, and that's how it should be reported.

I am looking forward to the day when a decision will finally be made, whatever the outcome is, as I can foresee that things will be pretty slow moving at the Assembly until a Government is formed. As Dafydd Ellis Thomas said earlier this week, the situation is not a 'crisis' or a 'stalemate' for that matter, as Nick Speed suggested tonight on HTV Wales. This is such an important decision for Plaid that we can't just make quick decisions for the future at any cost. We have to weigh up each option clearly. You will be pleased to know that I have made up my mind, but I won't be airing it here for the time being.

For now, I will return to opening the huge bundle of post that I have had on my desk since May the 3rd!

First day at the Senedd

I'm finally getting settled in at the Assembly. I've been allocated my office, I've been given a mass of information on everything from wages, to staffing information, to research questions. It's a lot to take in today but I'm sure I'll get used to it. We had a group meeting this morning, and the BBC were like paparazzi outside filming the meeting. ( trying, no doubt to pick up any clues to their coalition story)

I've since done a few interviews for the press, followed by attening the first plenary session( I didn't have to vote, so I couldn't 'do a Gibbons'!). It was very exciting to sit in the Senedd with the other AM's, although I am told that you can hear everything everyone says in private conversation due to the acoustics of the place, so I kept quiet- naturally!

Fair play to Jane Hutt, she was the only Labour AM to congratulate all Plaid AM's in turn. The session wasn't very long, but Dafydd Ellis Thomas was re-elected Presiding Officer, and Rosemary Butler as Deputy. Let's hope they both get on better than Dafydd Ellis Thomas and John Marek!

Until we know who will govern at the Assembly, things will be quiet here I predict. It will give me enough time to plan, and to settle in properly...I hope!