Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you for the opportunity to speak in this debate, and I'd like to thank the petitioners, of course, for gathering the names in order to draw attention again to the critical situation that we are facing, in terms of the number of vacancies and the need to extend the legislation on safe nursing levels within our health service. And I will repeat that word: 'safe'. This is about patient...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer, and I thank both contributors for their contributions—Sam Kurtz and Peredur Owen Griffiths. Just a few comments from me, therefore, to respond. I thank Sam. Yes, it is important that we do as an organisation show leadership. Certainly, we want to show here, don't we, how naturally bilingualism can operate in one of the most formal situations...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: I will now move on to the official languages scheme for the sixth Senedd. Those who are familiar with the official languages scheme for the fifth Senedd will immediately see that we have made a relatively significant change to the format of the scheme for the sixth Senedd. This is in response to comments made by Members and staff regarding the length of the document, possibly, and from time...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you very much, Llywydd. I'm pleased to present the two documents laid before the Senedd today, namely the annual report on the Senedd official languages scheme for 2021-22, and the official languages scheme for the sixth Senedd. Let me turn first to the annual report. Members will be familiar with the procedure of holding an annual debate on our work during the year. In accordance with...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: It's quite right, as I've argued, that we try to exploit the potential of a free port, but what I've called for is honesty about what the risks might be and the need to militate against that. It was disappointing that the Conservatives, including the local MP, were willing to accept £8 million rather than £25 million for a free port on Anglesey, and I'm pleased now that, working together,...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you. And the First Minister confirmed in a letter on 15 September that the Welsh Government had asked to be a core contributor to the first module of the consultation. We should have a separate public inquiry for Wales, of course, and my concern is that the Welsh Government sees its role as being a contributor when I want the Welsh Government to be the subject of an inquiry.
Rhun ap Iorwerth: I really fear that we won't see the scrutiny of Welsh Government actions, good and bad, that Welsh people deserve. What we have, having refused a Welsh-specific inquiry, we see Ministers themselves commissioning community health councils to gather public opinion on the COVID response. There's the inquiry that Welsh Government has commissioned itself into hospital-acquired infections—pseudo...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: 4. Will the First Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's role in the UK COVID-19 inquiry? OQ58457
Rhun ap Iorwerth: I'd very much like to get Welsh Government's help in protecting the ancient woodland at Penrhos coastal park in Holyhead. Permission was given around a decade ago to build a holiday park there; I don't think that permission should have been given then, certainly now, in the context of our new understanding of the depth of the climate and biodiversity emergencies and the appreciation of green...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: We need to ensure robust and resilient plans are in place, the Minister tells us. I agree with the Member for the Conservatives saying that those plans should already be in place. How on earth has Welsh Government left it until late September before being able to publish those assurances? Maybe the Minister can address that further. But I would like to focus, if I can, on the worrying...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you very much to the Minister. Thank you for the statement. In parliamentary terms, we're setting some sort of baseline today, I suppose. This statement comes at the very beginning of the term, at a time when we're in transition between summer and winter, or moving to summer pressures and winter pressures, because it has become more and more apparent that the NHS is unsustainable at all...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: What is the Welsh Government doing to tackle homelessness in Ynys Môn?
Rhun ap Iorwerth: I'm pleased to see this motion before us here today. I'm going to be referring to a couple of points that have been made already. At least 8,000 people in Wales have a chronic HCV infection. Untreated, of course, it can cause very serious illness—cirrhosis of the liver, liver cancer, and other health problems. I know, having spoken to constituents, about the impact that it can have on...
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you. The proposal is to note the committee's report. Does any Member object? I hear no objection. And therefore the motion is agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.
Rhun ap Iorwerth: We'll move on now to item 9, debate on the Economy, Trade, and Rural Affairs Committee report, 'Refreshing Wales’ Bovine TB Eradication Programme'. I call on the committee Chair to move the motion. Paul Davies.
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you, Minister. I call on Peredur Owen Griffiths to reply to the debate.
Rhun ap Iorwerth: And we did succeed in calling all speakers. Altaf Hussain.
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Could I call on the Minister for Finance and Local Government, Rebecca Evans?
Rhun ap Iorwerth: I appreciate that the contributions have been concise today. I hope we can get two or three more in, depending on how concise they are. Luke Fletcher.
Rhun ap Iorwerth: Thank you very much. Jane Dodds.
