Thursday, May 12th, 2011

Plaid AM raises concerns about Welsh Language use in Assembly Chamber

Carmarthen East & Dinefwr Assembly Member Rhodri Glyn Thomas has raised concerns about the future use of the Welsh language in the Chamber of the National Assembly following today’s appointment of a non-Welsh speaking Presiding Officer and Deputy Presiding Officer.

Mr. Thomas, who was re-elected in last week’s Assembly election, said he feared the use of Welsh would diminish in the Chamber as a consequence of proceedings being chaired in English and has urged Welsh speaking Assembly Members to use the language as much as possible in the new term.

Rhodri Glyn Thomas said:

“The National Assembly has, quite rightly, been at the forefront of bilingualism. However, I believe it is inevitable the use of Welsh language in the Assembly Chamber will diminish as a result of proceedings being chaired in English.

“It is of the utmost importance that Assembly Members who are able to speak Welsh do so in the Chamber to ensure the language is used right at the heart of our democracy.

“Plaid Cymru introduced legislation to promote the use of the Welsh language in wider services in Wales. It would be a crying shame if the very institution which introduced this legislation did not take a lead in its implementation.

ENDS/DIWEDD

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