Neil McEvoy: I'm listening to you there talking about protecting children, and I've been saying—hundreds of times on social media, in this Chamber—that children are alleging serious abuse in private care homes in Wales and nobody is listening to them. So, we're debating this now—whether that's criminal or not. I'm being told by children themselves, actually, some of them who've left care, that they...
Neil McEvoy: Through you, Minister, I'd like a statement from the Deputy Minister for children on child protection, because we live in a Wales where a vulnerable child, or vulnerable children, actually, in the care of private companies can allege abuse, it's not taken seriously, they will not be taken to a place of safety to be spoken to, if a child has learning difficulties they will not be given an...
Neil McEvoy: It's the principle. What's disgusting is not helping people.
Neil McEvoy: Would you give way?
Neil McEvoy: Thank you. Just a question, really. If there's a person who has alleged rape in south Wales and is unhappy with the way they've been treated by the South Wales Police and then they maybe go and see an AM, for example, do you think the AM should help them? What do you think the AM should do? And what do you think should happen to that AM if they ignore the person who has presented as a victim?
Neil McEvoy: Would you give way, Leanne?
Neil McEvoy: Would you give way?
Neil McEvoy: Will your Government carry out an assessment of how vulnerable children are protected or not protected in Wales today—children living here? Because there are examples, and I'll give you this, First Minister, where a child can allege abuse constantly, constantly—. I don't know why you're shaking your head, First Minister. A child in Wales can allege abuse constantly, not be given an...
Neil McEvoy: Will the Minister make a statement on the Welsh Government's efforts to reduce harmful vehicle emissions in South Wales Central? Transferred for written answer by the Minister for Economy and Transport.
Neil McEvoy: Will you take a quick intervention?
Neil McEvoy: Thanks for accepting the quick intervention, Deputy Minister. The problem that I have with the children's commissioner is that if you read what she said about alienation, she effectively denies that it happens, and CAFCASS are belatedly cottoning on now, which is progress. England are further ahead than Wales. But it seems that we have a children's commissioner who fails to recognise this...
Neil McEvoy: There are lots of buzz words in the report—'empowering', 'rights', 'consult', 'engage'—but I'm actually very disappointed with the report. And what I find most disappointing, indeed unacceptable, to be frank, is that there is not a single mention of parental alienation—not a single mention in the whole report. Now, parental alienation is where a parent is alienated from a child. It can...
Neil McEvoy: I'll reiterate—yes, z-class bullies. You try to be big and tough, but you're not, really. Anyway, Deputy Presiding Officer, I think I've made my point. I've been interrupted. The people of Wales can see I've been called a liar, I've been told I've been lying, I've been called a bully, and none of this—. You've not intervened in any way, shape or form to do anything about that...
Neil McEvoy: I'm explaining the power of lobbyists, how they influence the political process, how Assembly Members like me have been leaned on—leaned on—in an attempt to be bullied I would say by z-class bullies. [Interruption.] Alun Davies, you know very well where the gutter is, as you just mentioned the gutter.
Neil McEvoy: She's called me a liar.
Neil McEvoy: On another occasion, my senior adviser told me that Adam Price had said that if we continued to go after Deryn, there would be consequences. Now, I raised this with Adam and he denied saying that. What is interesting, though, is—[Interruption.] I know who I believe, to be frank, but what is interesting is that 11 days after I made public the Ofcom scandal with that lobbying firm—just 11...
Neil McEvoy: Deputy Presiding Officer, I've just been accused of lying. What are you going to do about that?
Neil McEvoy: I will reiterate, I was summoned to the leader's office, in those days, and told in no uncertain terms that it was not welcome that I was following the agenda that I was following. The chief whip just called me a liar, actually, and nothing was said about that, Deputy Presiding Officer, and that was the chief whip who called me when I was on holiday. She phoned me to ask me about what I was...
Neil McEvoy: [Inaudible.]—treated in a very discriminatory manner in this Chamber. I must state that on the record. We need strong regulation and we need a register. Now, the lobbying firm Deryn were so concerned about the questions that I was asking about them that they got in contact with Plaid Cymru, even, and told the leadership to pull me into line. And that was confirmed in writing with the...
Neil McEvoy: I'm glad I took on the issue of lobbying, because if I hadn't done, I'd still probably be a Plaid Cymru AM. I really admire Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in the United States, because she is people-funded and not lobbyist-funded. I remember Carwyn Jones saying that lobbyists had no access to Ministers. Now, Carwyn does have a strange relationship with the truth, but in this case, there was no...
