Plaid backbenchers and the new Assembly term

Back at the Assembly today for the launch of the new Equal Opportunities body in Wales. As I sit on the Equal Opportunities Committee I will be keeping a keen eye on developments in this area, specifically with regards the work performed by the offices in Wales, and the location of such offices. Making sure that there is a smooth transformation from one body to another is also a key priority for the new organisation, notwithstanding the important policy areas which they need to tackle, alongside the Assembly, of course!

Tomorrow I have a full diary of events and meetings, which also includes an event sponsored by Dafydd Elis Thomas to celebrate 10 years of devolution. I will blog on this in more detail on the anniversary itself.

Tomorrow is also when our first plenary session of the year takes place. Ieuan Wyn Jones has already taken questions as Minister, but this term will see the real affects of Plaid in Government, and its affect on us as a Party. I am looking forward to my role as a backbencher- scrutinising and monitoring the work of the Government. I certainly hope that I will have more to say than ‘Will the Minister agree that…..’ at every session!!

On another note entirely, it seems that the Lib dems are preparing for a leadership contest. I of course have no intention of endorsing any one politician, but what I will say is that I think that Kirsty Williams was unfairly treated during the whole discussion on forming a Government and that this shouldn’t rule her out entirely from any said leadership race. If I was her, I would bide my time, nevertheless, but she should be given fair play.

In other news, I notice that David Collins, Ann Jones’s researcher has resigned. I can only say that it was the appropriate action considering his total disregard of the importance of the Welsh language, and those who speak the language.

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Nol I’r Cynulliad heddiw ar gyfer lansiad y corff Cyfleoedd Cyfartal newydd yng Nghymru. Gan fy mod I’n eistedd ar y pwyllgor Cyfleoedd Cyfartal, byddaf yn cadw golwg ar ddatblygiadau’r corff newydd hwn, yn enwedig yng nghyd destun y gwaith fydd yn cael ei wneud o’r swyddfa yng Nghymru yn benodol, yn ogystal a safle daearyddol y swyddfeydd. Mi fydd gwneud yn siwr bod yna esblygiad naturiol I rol newydd y sefydliad yn bwysig iawn, heb son am bwysigrwydd blaenoriaethau polisi.

Fory, mae gen I ddyddiadur llawn o ddigwyddiadau a chyfarfodydd, sydd hefyd yn cynnwys digwyddiad yn enw Dafydd Elis Thomas yn dathlu 10 mlynedd o ddatganoli. Byddaf yn blogio mwy am hyn yn y man.

Fory fydd y sesiwn llawn cyntaf ar lawr y Cynulliad hefyd. Fe wnaeth Ieuan Wyn Jones cymryd cwestiynnau fel Gweinidog cyn ddiwedd y tymor diwethaf, ond nawr mae’r gwaith yn dechrau go iawn! Rwy’n edrych ymlaen I’n rol newydd ar y meinciau cefn, ac at y cyfle I scriwtineiddio’r Gweinidogion. Rwy’n fawr obeithio y byddaf yn gallu dweud mwy na ‘A fydd y Gweinidog yn cytuno….’ ymhob sesiwn!!

Ar nodyn arall, mae’n rhagweld fod y Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol yn paratoi at gael rhas arweinyddol cyn hir. Wrth gwrs, does gen I ddim bwriad rhoi fy marn ar bwy ddylai arwain y grwp hynny, ond un peth ddweda I yw bod Kirsty Williams wedi cael amser galed iawn o ran feirniadaeth o’I rol yn rhan o drafodaethau’r Llywodraeth, ac ni ddylir hwn wir cael effaith ar ei chyfleoedd fel arweinydd. Os mai fi oedd Kirsty, byddaf yn aros am ychydig cyn rhoi fy enw ymlaen, ond dyle hi, fel pawb arall, cael chwarae teg.

Mewn newyddion arall, rwy’n gweld bod David Collins wedi ymddiswyddo fel ymchwilydd Ann Jones ers ei sylwadau yn pardduo’r iaith gymraeg. Y cyfan weda I yw fy mod I’n cytuno mai dyma’r weithred gorau iddo gymryd o ystyried ei feirniadaeth o’r iaith gymraeg, a’r rheiny sy’n medru’r iaith.

Getting the work/life balance right- Women in the workplace

There is an interesting article in today's Independent about women in the workplace, particularly concentrating on an Equal Opportunities Commission report which was released today. The report's findings indicate that women do not know their rights in the workplace while they are pregnant. Of the 2,000 interviewed, 1 in 4 complained of being treated unfairly when they returned to work.

This is a clear indication of the need for employers and government alike to enforce clear strategies which do not discriminate against pregnant women in the workplace, and introduce policies which assist working mothers. The report acknowledges that many women could be dissuaded from re-entering the world of work if conditions and treatment do not change, and if employers do not address their 'knowledge gap' with regards equal opportunity in the workplace. Of course company profit and sustainability is important, but workers rights must be prioritised.

Another element of this argument is the enhancement of childcare provision. Many companies do not invest in childcare provision for their staff, therefore parents are left to fund increasingly expensive private childcare for their children. I am aware of a number of women who have returned to work after maternity leave, only to be stigmatised by bosses, and alienated by other workers for seeking to create a work/ life balance.

This is one of the many reasons why Plaid are pledging to prioritise childcare issues in the run up to the Assembly election. We are proposing to double the Assembly's childcare budget in a bid to create universal affordable childcare. The provision as it stands is patchy, and often those who seek childcare facilities cannot afford it. I would like to see more investment by companies in childcare provision, and the development of the Equal Opportunities Gender budgeting agenda.This would be a first step in encouraging a work, life balance and in creating genuine equal opportunity in the workplace.