Llywydd, my career has been a tale of two institutions and something important connects them. The institutions are the Temple of Peace and the Assembly, now Senedd. And what connects them for me is the issue of children's rights.

The Temple of Peace is Cardiff's finest art deco building, but perhaps an under-appreciated national institution. It is a haven for the voluntary sector, and a place where some of its finest conferences and seminars have been held. I started my work there in 1989: the year of the cold war ending and the UK adopting the Children Act 1989 and the UN promoting and adopting the convention on the rights of the child. As Unicef's officer in Wales, I organised what was one of the first conferences in the whole world on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. And the UN convention had a great impact on the early work of this institution, and indeed it influences our work still.

Llywydd, it will always be my proudest moment in professional life to have sat in the inaugural meeting of the National Assembly for Wales. Wales had become a political nation, and I was there to participate and observe, despite the fact that I had opposed that development. What grace, what honour, to be received into an institution you opposed and to be asked to make a contribution, and for that contribution to be valued. 

The first Assembly quickly had to absorb and act on the findings of the Waterhouse report, 'Lost in Care'. One of the results of that grim episode was us establishing the first children's commissioner in the UK, and what a success that office has been. Ever since, the cause of looked-after children, now termed 'care experienced', has been closest to my heart. For more years than I care to remember, I have chaired the all-party group, and I thank our secretariat, that truly wonderful NGO, Voices from Care, for their leadership. It was a great honour, also, to be asked by the Welsh Government to chair the ministerial advisory group on outcomes for children, and there is much work that we've done and much, much more to do to ensure that care-experienced young people get the best chance possible in life.

There are too many people and organisations to thank, but some have to be mentioned, so apologies to those I leave out. I want to thank the Commission staff, throughout my career but particularly during my time as Deputy Presiding Officer. And Elin, I want to thank you for the way you've led this institution in the fifth Senedd. I want to thank all the colleagues I've served with, from all parties, but especially those from my own party, who I think I've irritated on occasion, in being perhaps a little too mischievous. I want to thank my family and friends, who have been there during the tougher days to maintain my morale. Above all, I want to thank my staff, foremost my PA of 22 years—my political partner, really—Sarah Sharpe. And finally, to the people of South Wales Central, I do thank you for allowing me to serve you. I think it's now safe for me to say that I've been a lifelong Swansea City supporter, but Cardiff have always had my second allegiance. Diolch yn fawr.