I welcome today’s statement and I’m very pleased that Wales has a clear, reasonable and creative voice on this vital issue. I’m very pleased that Plaid Cymru has played a central role in this. Could I also agree with the comments of the Torfaen Member? This is such an important issue that it’s vital for us to come together for the benefit of our nation.

Of course, at the core of this is our economic benefit and interests and our constitutional interests as well. In the very brief time today, I’d like to focus my questions on the aspects of the White Paper where the Government and the Assembly have the authority to act immediately. For example, page 26 mentions creating a constitutional convention to redraw the British constitution to be a more federal system. Is it the intention, therefore, of the Government to propose this formally in the joint ministerial committee on Monday, or perhaps in the future? Or is the First Minister considering going further and having his own summit and inviting the other Governments in order to start the work on the constitutional convention?

Page 28 broaches the issue of this Assembly legislating if the great repeal Bill in Westminster does interfere with the Welsh constitution. We had evidence yesterday in the External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee by the Cabinet Secretary for finance, who said that the Welsh Government lawyers were discussing the process with the Westminster lawyers at present on the great repeal Bill. When does the First Minister believe that we will see political intervention, or political collaboration, between the two Governments?

Page 23 notes the importance of renewing our relationship with the Republic of Ireland. I’m pleased that the First Minister mentioned this in his statement as well, and drew attention to the future of our ports, and the INTERREG project between the two nations. When does he intend to start the process of renewing our relationship with the Republic of Ireland? The Assembly has powers, and the Government has powers, already to have that kind of relationship. Is he intending to meet the Taoiseach in the near future to achieve this? In the same section, on page 23, there is a wish to strengthen Wales’s profile on the international stage. Could I ask the First Minister to publish a draft international policy that is comprehensive so that we can discuss it in this Assembly? It could focus on trade and attracting investment to Wales, but also a vision for a broader, outward-looking Wales, drawing attention to the political context as we leave the European Union.

Finally, many objectives in the White Paper are to do with keeping Wales part of projects that are open to non-EU member states, and many of them are to do with issues that are devolved. Therefore, what discussions is the First Minister intending to have in the near future to keep Wales, for example, a part of schemes such as Erasmus+ and Euro-Plus?

Could I finish by thanking the First Minister and the Cabinet Secretary for finance for their collaboration and co-operation over this recent period so that we could come together to create a national White Paper and, by doing so, project a clear, national voice at this very important time for Wales?