Llyr Gruffydd: If leadership is having 'several discussions', to quote what you just told me in answer, I mean, crikey, you've had 10 years' worth of several discussions, Minister, as a Government, and you've gone from leading the UK on this agenda to playing catch-up. Those aren't the actions of a Government that's taking the plastics crisis seriously. And you can ask your own constituents, because I know...
Llyr Gruffydd: But that doesn't change the fact that renewable energy development in Wales is slowing down under Labour's watch. Declaring a climate emergency should mean a ramping up and an acceleration in the rate of development, but you haven't delivered that. Now, maybe we shouldn't be surprised, given that you cut support from the hydropower sector, for example, in Wales, leaving many of those schemes...
Llyr Gruffydd: Diolch, Llywydd. Minister, do you regret the fact that the rate of installation of new renewable energy capacity has fallen every year under Labour in Wales since 2015?
Llyr Gruffydd: Thank you very much once again, Deputy Llywydd. I'm pleased to contribute to this debate too, this time on the Welsh Government's final budget, and I do so, of course, in my role as Chair of the Finance Committee. I'm also pleased that the Minister has accepted or accepted in principle every one of the 36 recommendations made by the committee. During the debate on the draft budget, this...
Llyr Gruffydd: Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer, and it's a pleasure to speak in this debate today on behalf of the Finance Committee. The committee met on 24 February to consider the Welsh Government’s third supplementary budget for 2020-21. As the Chamber will know, having a third supplementary budget is very unusual, but it does reflect perhaps the continued impact of COVID-19. So, we're...
Llyr Gruffydd: Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I started this debate by encouraging Members to acknowledge the fact that this motion was no call on us not to take action, and certainly I am not looking to not introduce regulations and to ignore the problem. Unfortunately, the Minister's comments in response to the debate show me that she hasn't listened to a word I've said, and that's disappointing. I...
Llyr Gruffydd: These regulations are disproportionate. Natural Resources Wales's advice—of course, the experts' advice—to Welsh Government was to designate 8 per cent of Wales as a nitrate vulnerable zone. The Government has ignored that and gone for 100 per cent coverage. Why is that problematic? Well, it's because you're clobbering everyone, the whole of the industry, with the requirement for farms in...
Llyr Gruffydd: Diolch yn fawr iawn, Llywydd. I'd like to start, maybe, by just shattering a few myths. Plaid Cymru is not in favour of accepting the status quo on water quality. We support action and stronger regulations on pollution. So, anyone who wants to characterise this debate in a way that suggests otherwise is intentionally misleading people. We absolutely support the need to tackle water pollution,...
Llyr Gruffydd: What discussions has the Welsh Government had with the UK Government regarding the single issuing authority in light of the UK leaving the EU?
Llyr Gruffydd: Well, as amendment 53 was rejected, Llywydd, there's no purpose to amendment 58 in the Bill, so I won't move the amendment.
Llyr Gruffydd: Move.
Llyr Gruffydd: Move.
Llyr Gruffydd: Move.
Llyr Gruffydd: Move.
Llyr Gruffydd: Move.
Llyr Gruffydd: It is.
Llyr Gruffydd: I'm disappointed that Jenny Rathbone feels that the amendments are misguided. Yes, I understand—. The Minister referred to my early involvement, maybe, as a former member of the Children, Young People and Education Committee. I understand fully that it is a framework piece of legislation, but of course, Jenny was telling us, 'We don't need to tell them about this, because it's there'. Well,...
Llyr Gruffydd: Thank you very much, Llywydd, and may I thank everyone who's contributed? The fact that young people have been a part of this process of working on amendments and scrutinising the Bill has been an important part of this process in terms of empowering young people and arming them with a new set of skills that will allow them to do that effectively in the future too, so it's positive that...
Llyr Gruffydd: Thank you very much, Llywydd, and thank you for the opportunity to speak to these amendments in the first group.
Llyr Gruffydd: Two years ago, of course, when this Senedd supported the motion to declare a climate emergency, we became the first Parliament in the world to do so. And doing so was a clear statement that not only is there an emergency, but, of course, there's a need for us to respond to that emergency in a way that reflects the seriousness of the crisis that we face. Now, these actions are not only for us...
