Part of 6. 6. Debate on Stage 3 of the Public Health (Wales) Bill – in the Senedd at 3:54 pm on 9 May 2017.
Thank you, Llywydd. I appreciate that the consensus that has been achieved during the passage of this Bill through the committee stages has been reflected here again in the Chamber. Each and every one of us at the beginning of this journey was aware that we were talking about a problem and a crisis here, and we all wanted to find a way of including it on the face of the Bill. What we have delivered through negotiation and through seeking a joint way forward between ourselves and Government is to ensure that we have reached that objective. I repeat that the challenge now—or the reality now—is that this is just the beginning of the journey. In having agreement to working towards a strategy, then we have to turn that principle into a strategy that will make a real difference. I look forward to seeing these amendments formally approved now, and I look forward to seeing the development of that strategy, which could be the start of the journey to tackling this crisis, which is so damaging for us as a nation.