The new strategy identifies 10 transformational changes we will need to drive forward. These are: creating new speakers through the education system; use of the language, in the workplace and socially, and through services; and, finally, creating favourable conditions to ensure that we have an infrastructure and context for the Welsh language, such as supporting Welsh-speaking communities and supporting the language through digital technology. And may I be clear? We don’t just want to reach a million people who can speak Welsh. We want to see a million people who can and can choose to use their Welsh language skills.

The strategy focuses, naturally, on plans to significantly increase the number of new Welsh speakers, and a focus is placed on the transition phases between the early years to statutory education in the first instance, but also on supporting a single Welsh language continuum, so that our young people have the best possible opportunity to become confident Welsh speakers.

This will require ambition, support and leadership from local authorities, governors and school headteachers to reach our target of 40 per cent of learners in Welsh-medium education by 2050. Effective delivery of the Welsh in education strategic plans will be essential to drive this work forward, and I will make a further statement regarding the review of the WESPs during the coming weeks. We are, of course, aware that this will be a challenge, but we must face such challenges to achieve our vision. Another obvious challenge will be to ensure that we have a sufficient number in the education workforce to achieve such an expansion. Purposeful action will be needed to ensure that sufficient numbers of young people wish to teach, and to teach through the medium of Welsh.

The Cabinet Secretary for Education announced last week her intention to invest £4.2 million from the education budget to further develop the teaching workforce able to teach Welsh and to introduce teaching through the medium of Welsh. This will include extending the sabbatical scheme and extending the role of the education consortia. We will also need to support our young people on their language journey after they leave school, as they move on to further and higher education, and as they join the workforce. I look forward to reading the report of the review of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol on the next steps that need to be taken in order to make progress in this area.

Similar attention will be given to increasing the use of the Welsh language. For the language to flourish, there need to be more Welsh speakers and those who are able to speak the language need to do so regularly. The traditional Welsh networks have enabled generations of people to use the language socially. They’ve also had success in creating a context for the language beyond the school or work environment, and we have reason to be thankful to them for their valuable contribution. According to 2015 figures, approximately 10 per cent of the population use Welsh regularly at present, and I want to see that increasing to 20 per cent by 2050.

I look forward to publishing a White Paper in August of this year outlining proposals for a new Welsh language Bill, to ensure that we are operating in the most effective way possible for the benefit of the people of Wales. To support efforts to increase the number of Welsh speakers and their use of the language, we need to create favourable conditions for them to do so. The new regional focus on economic development will be key to ensure that all parts of Wales, including Welsh-speaking communities, benefit from an economic perspective. That is key for the future of those communities.

To support that, before the end of this month, technical advice note 20 will be published, along with guidelines and a risk assessment framework for the Welsh language for large developments, to reflect the need to consider the Welsh language in planning policy. And, as the nature of society changes, and as developments continue in digital technology in the future, we will need to transform the Welsh language digital landscape, with particular emphasis on language technologies.

This strategy comes at an important time for the Welsh language. We either roll up our sleeves and respond to this challenge, or we give in. This strategy provides commitment to respond to this long-term and ambitious challenge. I am very clear in my mind that the Welsh Government needs to lead by example and provide leadership if we are to reach our goal. Presiding Officer, this is only the beginning of the journey. We each have a contribution to make—as supporters, learners, and regular Welsh speakers. We can all be one of the million.

Llywydd, nid yw fy natganiad heddiw ar strategaeth y Gymraeg a gyflwynir gan y Llywodraeth, yn ddatganiad i'r rhai hynny ohonom sy'n siarad Cymraeg yn unig. Mae'n ddatganiad ac yn bolisi ar gyfer y wlad gyfan. Rwy’n gobeithio hefyd bod hwn yn bolisi a fydd yn uno'r genedl, ac yn un a fydd hefyd yn ein herio fel cenedl, ac, os byddwn ni’n llwyddo i gyflawni’r her hon, bydd yn newid yn sylfaenol pwy yr ydym ni fel cenedl.

Rwy’n gofyn i ni heddiw gofleidio gweledigaeth a fydd rhoi taw ar ddadleuon y gorffennol. Heddiw, rwyf eisiau symud y tu hwnt i'r gwrthdaro a’r anghytuno a welsom ni yn rhy aml dros ddyfodol yr iaith. Mae'r Gymraeg yn eiddo i bob un ohonom. Ein hetifeddiaeth ni yw hi. Mae hi’n rhan o bob un ohonom ni. Mae hon yn weledigaeth lle mae pob un ohonom ni yn rhannu ein gwlad ac yn rhannu ein diwylliannau gyda’n gilydd. Rwyf eisiau i bob un o'n plant adael yr ysgol yn hyderus o ran nid yn unig deall Cymraeg sylfaenol, ond hefyd y diwylliant y mae hi’n sail iddo a’r hanes a’n gwnaeth ni y bobl yr ydym ni heddiw.

Rwy'n benderfynol, ac mae'r Llywodraeth hon yn benderfynol, y byddwn ni’n llwyddo yn yr ymdrech hon. Mae'n ymrwymiad hanesyddol ac yn un a fydd yn helpu i ddiffinio dyfodol pob un ohonom ni. Byddwn ni’n darparu'r weledigaeth a'r arweinyddiaeth, ond rydym ni hefyd yn gwybod na all yr un Llywodraeth, yr un Gweinidog na’r un Senedd gyflawni'r strategaeth hon a sicrhau ein llwyddiant neu fel arall. Bydd hynny'n cael ei benderfynu gan ein gwlad a'n pobl—y bobl hynny sy'n defnyddio ac yn siarad yr iaith, ac yn dysgu'r iaith, ac yn sicrhau bod eu plant yn hyderus yn yr iaith.

Wrth newid Cymru, byddwn hefyd yn newid y Deyrnas Unedig. Os gallwn ni greu cenedl wirioneddol ddwyieithog yn y teulu hwn o genhedloedd, byddwn yn helpu i wneud y DU yn gyffredinol yn lle gwahanol—yn fan lle mae cydnabyddiaeth i’n hiaith yn rhan hanfodol o’r etifeddiaeth Brydeinig a’r profiad Prydeinig. Yn hynny o beth, mae hefyd yn her i'r DU yn ogystal, ac yn enwedig y cyfryngau Prydeinig sy’n rhy aml yn ceisio naill ai anwybyddu neu wawdio ein diwylliant, a sefydliad Prydeinig nad yw’n dangos unrhyw ddiddordeb mewn realiti hunaniaeth Brydeinig nad yw’n cydymffurfio â'u rhagfarnau.

Llywydd, wrth gloi, rwy’n gobeithio y bydd hyn yn ddatganiad a fydd yn atseinio ar draws yr holl wlad ac yn ddatganiad a fydd yn dechrau taith y byddwn yn cyd-gerdded arni. Dwy iaith, dau ddiwylliant, ond un genedl. Diolch yn fawr iawn.