Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: Well, I think you will know from other occasions when I've spoken about this that I am the last person to ask about dates where public health issues are involved, because, clearly, as a Government, we've taken a very firm line that everything we do has to be within the context of public health. I'm aware that our neighbouring Government in England has decided to announce dates. Welsh...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: That's an absolute and strong yes.
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: I am fully aware of the pressure on the industry in Anglesey and I very much appreciate the relationship between ourselves as a Government and the local authority in Ynys Môn, under a strong leadership there. I'm pleased to say that we are continuing to seek ways of collaborating and also of securing adequate funding from the UK Government.
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: Everything that we do as a Welsh Government is aimed at the recovery of the tourism sector, and other sectors. We have secured almost £3 million for almost 200 tourism businesses on Anglesey, and that is in addition to the grants that have been allocated very effectively by the local authority. That will continue. I continue to meet regularly with tourism Ministers across the UK and I have...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: Diolch, Mark. The Welsh Government, through our partnership with the statutory arts council, provides funding on an annual basis to support the arts across Wales. The £63 million cultural recovery fund has been essential to support many organisations, and probably the best example in north Wales is the initial investment of £3 million that we have provided as a Government for Theatr Clwyd.
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: I accept the responsibility that I currently have as arts Minister for Theatr Clwyd, but also as somebody who has supported the theatre since it was first established, and I entirely agree with what you've said about its contribution. But there are other arts venues across the north, like Galeri in Caernarfon, Ucheldre in Caergybi, Pontio in Bangor, Frân Wen, Theatr Bara Caws, Mostyn, Dawns...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: Thank you very much, Ann, and thank you for the privilege of having you presiding on the final day in this place. Our friendship and our relationship in north Wales, and a lot of political collaboration that we won't mention today, goes back over decades. You have been a shining star among us, and particularly as you have presided over us. I welcome the committee's report and I'm very...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: Thank you very much, Llywydd, and my first thanks are expressed to you, for developing the constitution of our Senedd and for extending its message to the public, and particularly to the young people of Wales. I would also like to thank all of the officials who have made our work as elected Members possible in the Senedd, in its groups, its committees, the Commission, and within Welsh...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: It's a sad privilege but a very appropriate privilege that we are meeting today on such an occasion to commemorate the Earl of Merioneth and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. We have had opportunities, many of us, to meet him on formal and informal occasions. And in a state such as the United Kingdom, which is structured as a social democracy but also has a monarch as head of state, we...
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: 'I want to ask you a question',
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: he said,
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: 'I've never heard such an interfaith service ever,'
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: he said,
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: 'anywhere in the United Kingdom, and I want to tell you,'
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: he said,
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: 'you'd never get away with that in London.'
Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas: And what was of interest to him, of course, was why we had arranged that kind of event, and he understood the importance of faith to communities, and diversity of language, and his life experience reflected that. And the final word takes me back again to Meirionnydd. He was made Earl of Merioneth, and one of the most interesting events I attended with him was in Aberdovey, at the Outward...
