In arguing that there is a lack of equality in Wales today, we will now turn to equality in public life. Twenty eight per cent of councillors in Wales are women. The same figure, 28 per cent, of MPs from Wales are women. And here at the Assembly, 42 per cent of AMs are women—where there was equality back in 2003, and where the Assembly was in the vanguard at a global level. And unfortunately, my party has contributed to this decline, but I am pleased that we have agreed a new policy at our conference in the autumn that will put in place new mechanisms to have equal numbers of candidates. 

Research demonstrates that women in the Assembly raise issues such as childcare, domestic violence, the pay gap and end equal pay, and inequality more generally. And women do that far more often than their male counterparts. For the sake of natural fairness, but also in order to remove the barriers facing women generally, we must have 50:50 representation among those making decisions here in Wales. And that is why I agree entirely with the recent proposals made by the expert panel on Assembly reform, which suggest making it a requirement through law for political parties to choose candidates on an equal basis in terms of gender. 

The exact mechanism required to deliver that is a matter for us to focus on over the next months, perhaps years. But in starting here at our feet in this Assembly, there is an opportunity for us to make a difference. Having more women in this place would lead to better policies to create equality across Wales. It would also demonstrate the necessary leadership in order to create true equality across our nation. Evidence from across the world shows that quotas and gender legislation do make a real difference, but it does have to go hand in hand with a huge cultural shift too, and that's why including education on healthy relationships in the new curriculum is so crucial. 

My intention in bringing this debate forward today is to provide a focus once again on lack of equality, but proposing how we in this Assembly can contribute to the work of eradicating inequality, first of all by introducing a 50:50 quota through legislation, and not relying on the parties alone to lead in this regard. Since 1918, many steps have been taken towards equality, including the efforts of the suffragettes, and there is a great deal left to be done. There isn't enough emphasis on this work, and there isn't enough of a sense of urgency. Many of us in the Assembly have been battling for equality for women for many, many years—far too long perhaps—but now is the time. The women of Wales need to take the reins. Women have done that in the past. It is time for us to insist on equality and it's time for us to show the leadership required to achieve it. This is our opportunity and we must grasp it.

I look forward to hearing the contributions from other Assembly Members and, more than that, perhaps, I look forward to discussing this in terms of how we can move this forward together over the next few weeks. Thank you very much.