Thursday, May 26th, 2011

AM calls on Welsh Government to ‘Stand up for Wales’ in Public Holiday consultation

Following the launch of the UK Government’s Pre-Consultation on Moving the May Day Bank Holiday, Plaid Cymru Assembly Member Rhodri Glyn Thomas has tabled the very first Statement of Opinion in the new National Assembly to call for St. David’s Day to become a public holiday.

A Statement of Opinion is the mechanism that allows Assembly Members to draw attention to matter of concern or to note areas of achievement.  Mr. Thomas has used this mechanism to encourage the Welsh Government to respond to the consultation and call for an additional public holiday on St. David’s Day.

Rhodri Glyn Thomas said:

“St. David’s Day is of significant historical and cultural importance to Wales.  This has been widely accepted and agreed in the National Assembly in previous years but attempts to make St. David’s Day a national public holiday in Wales were disregarded by the last Labour government and all endeavours to reignite the debate have faced rejection by the Conservative-Lib Dem government pending the launch of this consultation.

“The Westminster government’s latest Tourism Strategy itself suggests St. David’s Day to be a possible alternative to the May Day Bank Holiday.  Therefore now the consultation has been launched and is inviting responses on alternative dates and occasions, this is the perfect opportunity to ensure our Patron Saint gains the same recognition as those of Scotland and Northern Ireland.

“A St. David’s Day bank holiday would offer an economic, cultural and social boost for Wales.  Plaid Cymru in government made tourism a driver in Welsh economic development and this would offer an opportunity to continue that commitment.”

“I am confident my Statement of Opinion will gain sufficient support and place a moral obligation on the Welsh government to stand up for the people of Wales and call for an additional public holiday on March 1st.

ENDS/DIWEDD

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