I fully support the proposal that St David's Day should be a bank holiday here in Wales, and I'd like to thank my colleague Tom Giffard for leading the debate here in the Senedd today. A bank holiday on our national day will bring our nation together to celebrate our history, our achievements, our distinct culture and our diversity.

As someone born and bred as well as living in Newport, you may not find this surprising, however I'm sure that my late father would have been supporting this motion today, just as Jack Sargeant's would have as well. My father was not born in Wales, but he chose to make Wales his home, and perhaps was the biggest advocate of Wales that I've ever met. Aside from that, he felt it has immense potential in all aspects of life, from the economy to education and transport as well. He wanted to create a better Wales for everyone and was committed to bringing our diverse communities together. A bank holiday on St David's Day would give people all across Wales, whether they were born here or not, the chance to unite in appreciation and celebration of the place that we all call home. As Jane Dodds said, it would give us a chance to pay tribute to our heroes and, as International Women's Day is coming up, our sheroes from Wales. As Janet Finch-Saunders stated, it would be a time to reflect on and celebrate our history. 

I know that one of the arguments put forward against this proposal is the cost to the economy. However, let's be clear: this motion is not about creating a new bank holiday, it's about moving one existing bank holiday, either May Day or the spring bank holiday, from May to March, so we can celebrate our patron saint's day. As Rhys ab Owen said earlier, other devolved nations in the UK already are doing this. The Northern Ireland Assembly made St Patrick's Day a bank holiday back in 2000, with the Scottish Parliament doing the same for St Andrew's Day in 2006. Why should the people of Wales be denied the same privilege? There is widespread support amongst the public for such a move. A BBC Wales poll in 2006 actually stated that 87 per cent support for the idea was there, and over 10,000 people had signed a recent petition in favour of the proposal.

It's also pleasing that this motion has received support from all parties represented in the Senedd today. It would also send a strong signal to Welsh expatriates and those who are proud of their Welsh heritage who live in other parts of the UK, or who live abroad, that they can celebrate with us on this very special day every year. There are Welsh societies in places as widespread as London, as Sam Kurtz mentioned in his contribution, Africa, New York, and, as Tom Giffard said, in Osaka as well. It was great to see the son of the Republican Senator for Utah and former candidate for President of the United States, Mitt Romney, wearing the Wales rugby shirt before the match against England. This clearly demonstrates his pride in his Welsh heritage on his mother's side, Ann Romney being the granddaughter of a miner from the Valleys.

Therefore, Deputy Presiding Officer, the power to make St David's Day a bank holiday does not reside here, but with the UK Government at Westminster. This motion, if passed, would enable us to work constructively with Westminster to secure a St David's Day bank holiday for Wales. I urge the Senedd to speak with one voice to bring this change about. Thank you very much.