Rhun ap Iorwerth: I nominate Leanne Wood as the First Minister of Wales.
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Leanne Wood.
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Presiding Officer, with your permission, a week ago, I nominated the leader of Plaid Cymru for the post of First Minister of Wales. Today, on behalf of the main opposition party, having succeeded in showing the largest party in the National Assembly that they do not have a majority in this place and that they need to reflect on that, I withdraw Leanne Wood’s nomination.
Rhun ap Iorwerth: 4. Will the First Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government’s input into the Wylfa Newydd development? OAQ(5)0013(FM) [W]
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you. The term of the fifth Assembly is going to be crucial, of course, in the development of Wylfa Newydd. The Welsh Government won’t decide whether the development proceeds, although everything does seem to be moving in that direction at present, but the Welsh Government does have a very important role to play in terms of ensuring that the development brings the greatest benefits...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: 8. Will the First Minister make a statement on the 2016 European Football Championship legacy for Wales? OAQ(5)0037(FM)[W]
Rhun ap Iorwerth: I will endorse those words by the First Minister as we turn to a European issue that all of us in this Chamber can agree on. I know that we all want to wish our national team well. It would be a very strange thing if I didn’t refer to the particular contribution by those from Anglesey to the national team, and I’m particularly pleased to wish Osian Roberts, a member of the coaching staff,...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Among Plaid Cymru’s priorities in this Assembly will be pressing for real measures to tackle recruitment within the health service, as is reflected in the post-election compact. But will the First Minister acknowledge, along with me, in the meantime, the contribution made by health professionals from the European Union to dealing with the recruitment problem that we have in the health...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: As well as taking this first opportunity in the Senedd to congratulate the Cabinet Secretary on his appointment and to thank him for this statement, may I congratulate each and every one who has made it possible for us to reach this point in terms of organ donation in Wales? We will hear from my fellow Member, Dr Dai Lloyd, in a few moments, as I know that he has a few questions to ask. But I...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: 8. Will the Minister provide an update on the Menai crossing development? OAQ(5)0006(EI)[W]
Rhun ap Iorwerth: The Minister will know that I have been consistently pressing for investment in a third crossing, or dualling the Britannia, however you want to see it. I was very grateful to see the Government agreeing to proceed with the business study recently, and I’m sure that the plans will be brought forward in due course. Today, National Grid have announced their latest proposals on transferring...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you, Llywydd. Two years ago, Plaid Cymru highlighted the frighteningly long waiting times for MRI scans in Wales as compared to Scotland and England, with over 40 per cent of patients at that time waiting over six weeks here, as compared to 1 per cent in England and 2 per cent in Scotland. Following on from that and some press coverage of the issue, you did make an effort to tackle the...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: What the improvement does demonstrate, of course, is that effort pays off and that we should never accept that budgetary limitations or increases in demand will inevitably lead to longer waiting times. As I said, MRI scans were given some press coverage a few years ago; there are other diagnostic tests that aren’t as headline grabbing, perhaps, where there are major problems that remain,...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: But there are innovative steps that could be taken. Last week, Cancer Research published a report on the next steps that they would want to see taken for a cancer strategy for Wales. They are asking for the introduction of a specific target of 28 days so that we can improve survival rates and, through that, they are adding to the chorus of authoritative voices supporting our policy, as Plaid...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Will you take an intervention?
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Are you going to mention Wales at all in your speech, or are you just betraying the fact that you are just using Wales as a vehicle to push your own agenda?
Rhun ap Iorwerth: It’s not unusual for a GP to fail to diagnose the symptoms of cancer during the first appointment. But, if a diagnosis is ultimately made following a second or third appointment, does the First Minister agree that the clock should start ticking, in terms of when treatment should start, from the time of that first appointment, because swift treatment for patients is the most important thing,...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Just a few words from me and a question, as one who was an employee with the BBC for 20 years, and that’s just to remind us of what our broadcasters should be providing to the Welsh audience. S4C, of course, carries out two jobs in a way. First of all, it broadcasts through the medium of Welsh to an audience that wants to view Welsh language programming, but, in so doing, it broadcasts...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer, and thank you for the statement. This is a very important survey. I appreciate that we’re only discussing the headlines today and I’m looking forward to a fuller analysis in due course. There are positive signs here on the percentage that smoke, for example, with reduction continuing, but, of course, with a long way to go. I do support the...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: 7. Will the Minister provide an update on the rural development plan? OAQ(5)0012(ERA)[W]
