Adam Price: I'm grateful to the Cabinet Secretary for his kind words, but maybe we can return to the matter in hand. That was a nice deflection device there, because, actually, the company does not have a problem in relation to the commercial confidentiality in this case, because they have confirmed the existence of a guarantee fee agreement with the Welsh Government in the prospectus that they have just...
Adam Price: Look, Cabinet Secretary, this really isn't good—. Instead of a few words of congratulations, how about a few words of contrition from the Cabinet Secretary about the failure to be transparent, having, basically, the information dragged out of you because the company has decided it is right and proper to put this information in the public domain, and yet you've stonewalled right throughout?...
Adam Price: Diolch, Llywydd. First Minister, as the ink begins to dry on last week's resignation letter, the focus is naturally shifting to the legacy you will leave behind: close to a quarter of our people and a third of our children in poverty; life expectancy in reverse and falling quicker than anywhere else in Europe; a flatlining economy, with Wales stuck in perpetuity at the bottom of the league...
Adam Price: Let's agree, in the time that you have left, First Minister, on the terms of trade: I ask the questions and you give the answers. It's your record that's under the focus here. Now, maybe one—I don't know—of your proudest moments was the great unveiling ceremony, when an Aston Martin car was draped in a Welsh flag in front of the Welsh Government's offices in Cathays Park. Now, what you've...
Adam Price: The scandal of the answer that you've just given, First Minister, is that the company has put more information into the public domain than the Government, which is meant to be acting in the public interest. Now, let's turn to Natural Resources Wales. You referred to the incoming chief executive. She's admitted serious failings at the organisation, which she attributed to...
Adam Price: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Plaid Cymru put forward this motion today on a people's vote because it's our considered and heartfelt belief that it's our solemn duty to do everything in our power to avoid a self-inflicted calamity to our country. Democracy is indeed a powerful thing; it can form and topple Governments, it can create new democracies and nation states, but at its essence, of...
Adam Price: Yes, certainly.
Adam Price: Well, look, I think the point at the heart of everything that I have said is that these sunlit uplands, this land flowing with milk and honey that was promised, has been shown to be a complete and utter lie. The people were lied to and, actually, many of those who voted on the basis of this false prospectus are angry about a political class that has acted as charlatans, and, in those...
Adam Price: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. I'm grateful to those Members that have taken part in this debate, and I'd like just to respond, first of all, to the First Minister, who spoke very, very powerfully, drawing on his own family experience, of course, in terms of the history of Northern Ireland. You know, actually, the contribution of the EU in terms of peace, right throughout this continent, has been...
Adam Price: Well, look, it's not us on this side who have undermined the Prime Minister's negotiations. I mean, look at what even her former Foreign Secretary is saying about the way that she's handled the negotiations. That's one bit where it seems there's wide agreement. It's been shambolic; it's been absolutely pathetic. The problem is, of course, that it's the people who will pay the price for the...
Adam Price: Diolch, Llywydd. First Minister, yesterday I was with the other First Minister, of Scotland. Anyone who visits Scotland and the Scottish Government nowadays comes away with a sense of a country that is confident, a Government that is effective and a leader that is respected in Scotland and further afield. Yesterday, when the Scottish First Minister called for any Brexit backstop affording...
Adam Price: First Minister, your claim to be a strong voice for Wales would carry some greater weight if it wasn't for the fact that you're leaving the office of First Minister at this most critical time in our history and, within a matter of days of your announcing your intention to do so, your Government, led by one of your would-be successors, in stark contrast to the courage of conviction shown by...
Adam Price: You're being outflanked by the Scottish First Minister. You're even being outflanked by Northern Ireland, who don't even have a First Minister or a Government or an Assembly. It's less of a surprise, perhaps, that you're being outshone by the Government of the Republic of Ireland; after all, they're an independent state, and there may be a lesson for us there, First Minister. I was very...
Adam Price: Thank you, Llywydd. First of all, on behalf of Plaid Cymru, I’d like to extend my sincerest sympathies to the families and friends of those who have lost their lives as a result of the flooding over the weekend, including a constituent of mine, Corey Sharpling from Newcastle Emlyn, and I would welcome a personal commitment from the First Minister that the Government will look in earnest at...
Adam Price: First Minister, can you explain why, when the Labour group voted here a week ago against Plaid Cymru's motion calling for a people's vote on Brexit, two of your Ministers have been pressing the case for such a vote in recent days? Your health Secretary says the 'leave' campaign could have committed fraud. Your skills Minister says Brexit would be a tragedy and seriously damage Wales. Both say...
Adam Price: I think the Labour Party could be accused of creative ambiguity in relation to its Brexit policy, but I don't think it could be accused of clarity. No more is that ambiguity on show than in the Labour leadership hustings. Reports from the first hustings held last week in the battle to replace you certainly made for interesting reading. Your skills Minister complained about the cuts to adult...
Adam Price: Perhaps the biggest criticism made of your Government is that you don't like criticism. It's not just me saying that, but your Cabinet Secretary for local government, Alun Davies—I knew your time would come, Alun—who said this in a lecture to Public Affairs Cymru a few weeks ago: 'All too often I have seen people pull punches and bite lips whilst giving evidence to committees because...
Adam Price: I think it remains to be seen whether this is the swansong for me as a committee member in responding to this report, but—[Interruption.] Okay, calm yourself. But I think the committee Chair was absolutely right: I think this has been one of the most fascinating and most far-reaching of reports. Just to focus in on one of the recommendations that the Chair referred to in terms of this idea...
Adam Price: Diolch, Llywydd. As leader of the house on 16 October, you told us there would be a debate on the decision on the M4 relief road during the week beginning 4 December. Does the Government plan to announce its decision before that date while the Assembly is in session and not during the recess next week, for example? And will that be through the means of an oral statement to the Assembly? Will...
Adam Price: I appreciate, for reasons of accuracy, possibly, that the leader of the house was drawing on her notes there, but could I just press her, because I'm not clear that in her response she covered, for example, whether this will ultimately be a decision for the First Minister alone, or will there be a Cabinet discussion and, therefore, will the Cabinet be bound by collective responsibility in...
