Rhun ap Iorwerth: This is a Bill that nobody wants to see. We're all eager to see the people of Wales deciding as soon as possible, on the day appointed—6 May—as to who should formulate the Welsh Government for the next years. But, the crisis that we have lived through has been unprecedented in modern times, and the truth is that this virus is not one that respects the democratic process. However, I don't...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Diolch. Thank you for the statement and, again, I would want to thank everybody involved in the quite remarkable vaccination efforts in all parts of Wales. The first issue I want to raise is on communication. The First Minister said, a week ago, on the Radio 4 Today programme, that people aged over 50 were imminently about to receive their invitations for their vaccine. He said, and I quote,...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. We will be supporting these regulations; indeed, we have supported the extension of the Act for some time. One question, if I may: given the events of the past 12 months and the uncertainty that there is in terms of how many committed but very tired staff could choose to leave the profession because of the stresses that they have been through,...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you, Llywydd. Minister, you will be aware that a group of organisations wrote to the UK Prime Minister on measures to protect health and care workers from the virus. They say that steps to reduce airborne transmission have been insufficient and they are calling for an improvement in ventilation and for changes in PPE guidance in order to protect the workforce. Will you work proactively...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you. I want to turn now to the long-term impact of COVID-19. It's wonderful that the vaccination process is developing well, but many people will wait a long time before getting a vaccination, including young people, and they are also open to acute and serious risk, as we have seen in the most painful manner on Anglesey over the past few days in light of the deaths of two young men,...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: There is still a lack of understanding on how hard long COVID can hit people. Even if they don't have to go to hospital, it can take many weeks for some people to recover from COVID and the symptoms of COVID. I've heard of one individual who was threatened with disciplinary action from her employer unless she returned to work within a fortnight. She, as it happens, has recovered now but it...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you, Llywydd. Will the Minister outline what steps the Welsh Government has taken to secure access to mental health services during the pandemic?
Rhun ap Iorwerth: I'm of course pleased to hear the Minister say that services and access to services are crucial. We're all agreed on that, but it's true that many people are having difficulty accessing the support that they need. If you look at Stats Wales data, we see that the numbers referred to mental health services at a local level reduced by over a quarter in the nine months to December, as compared to...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Well, I'm pleased that you referred to young people, because, as you said, the stats demonstrate that young people do suffer more. And we know that the pandemic has had a very grave impact on the mental health of people and that young people have suffered more than anyone. Early access to care for young people is particularly important in trying to prevent problems from becoming more acute in...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: 8. Will the Minister make a statement on support for tourism businesses in Ynys Môn? OQ56318
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you. The sector certainly needs further support. There are still businesses who are only receiving a little support, or virtually none—those who are self-employed, those who don't pay their staff through PAYE, businesses that opened too close to the original lockdown, those that are receiving the self-employment income support grants, but therefore haven't been eligible for the grants...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: May I ask for a statement from the Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales as a matter of urgency following the decision by the Joloda Hydraroll company to move as many as 27 jobs from Gaerwen on Anglesey to Liverpool? This has been a very important employer on the island for many decades, and I'm very concerned about the workforce and their families now, who've been told that they...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you very much and welcome back, Deputy Llywydd. If I may ask for some clarity on two particular areas, the first is vaccination for unpaid carers. We got some clarity from the First Minister a little earlier—I was pleased to hear that—in terms of the process of deciding which carers will qualify for a vaccination in priority group 6. It's clear that those carers will have to make an...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: We will vote in favour of these regulations today. I do look forward, however, to seeing us being able to move further in terms of pupils returning to education, whilst also making the point that the vaccination of staff could play a major role in building confidence in the ability to allow that to happen safely. And in terms of allowing four people from two different households to exercise...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: 7. Will the Counsel General make a statement on the impact of leaving the European Union on ferry traffic through the Port of Holyhead? OQ56354
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you. The fall in traffic through the port is a cause of great concern for me. As one article on thejournal.ie said a few of days ago:
Rhun ap Iorwerth: 'When faced with a choice between a business taking a chance on a faster route that could end up being delayed for hours, or a slower route that will be guaranteed to arrive on time, businesses have—so far—been choosing certainty.'
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Business, of course, likes certainty. The same article mentions the additional costs that exist now that impact on businesses and their customers. One company from Beaumaris told me that the cost of importing £1,500 worth of goods would be £200 higher now than it would have been previously. What is the Welsh Government doing in negotiations with the UK and Irish Governments to try to...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: I'm very pleased to have been able to play a role in this hugely important inquiry. The pandemic has caused wider damage than simply the direct physical damage caused by COVID-19 itself, and I think we can expect the impact of the pandemic on mental health to last possibly longer than the impact on physical health. We heard as part of this inquiry about the direct impact of the pandemic and...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: We have two petitions before us today—one an appeal for prioritisation for police officers for COVID vaccination, the other the prioritisation of school staff and childcare staff. The Minister will be aware that I have raised these issues with him on a number of occasions. He was complaining in the health committee this morning that I'd brought the issue up three times in just a few days....
