Bethan Jenkins AC/AM Blog

Dwi jyst am sgwennu post byr iawn i ddweud fy mod i’n meddwl am deulu Geraint Owen yn ystod y cyfnod caled yma. Bu farw Gertaint Owen ar nos Wener.

Roedd o’n sioc i bawb sy’n nabod o’n dda, ac fe fydd colled ar ei ol. Dim on 43 oed oedd o. Dwi ddim yn siwr beth yw’r rhesymau dros y marwolaeth, ond dwi’n gobeithio byddaf yn gallu mynychu’r angladd.

Roedd Geraint Owen yn adnabyddus am fod yn actor ar Bobl y Cwm, ac roedd o’n cael ei hadnabod yn lleol yng Ngastell Nedd fel ‘Bond’ ar ol iddo golli allan ar ennill y rol James Bond ar gyfer y ffilmiau mwyaf diweddar.

O’n i’n nabod Geraint drwy’r Blaid yng Nghastell Nedd. Roedd o wedi sefyll yn erbyn Peter Hain ar gyfer sedd Castell Nedd San Steffan yn y gorffennol, ac roedd o wedi rhoi help llaw i mi pan oeddwn i’n sefyll fel ymgeisydd pan oedd e’n gweithio i Janet Davies AC.

Eto, hoffwn i estyn pob cydymdeimlad i’r teulu yn ystod y cyfnod anodd yma.

I can’t say that I enjoy the show Strictly Come Dancing, but its in the press today because the show has decided to axe judge Arlene Phillips, 66,  in favour of a younger Alesha Dixon. The Guardian today has termed it, rather originally- ‘Strictly Come Sexism‘, as its believed that the BBC are keen to get viewing ratings up with the introduction of a younger woman on the judging panel. This is an issue that I believe broadcasters such as the BBC must address in terms of the accusations of ageism and sexism that dominate the headlines. Women such as Anna Ford, Moira Stuart and Selina Scott have been axed from key positions in the BBC, with Selina Scott stating that she was ‘deeply saddened’ by the lack of older women on the tv, and a row erupted last December, when older female presenters were axed from the show Countryfile.

Mark Lawson in the Guardian states that ‘…it is unarguable that, historically, two different rules seem to have applied to male and female broadcasters once the expense accounts of their managers have been charged for a certain number of birthday cards.’

In a totally unscientific piece of quick fire research, I googled ‘gender balance in the BBC’, and the first article that appeared was this rather ironically- an article on how female AMs have transformed Welsh politics. Yet I couldn’t find information on statistics of how many women the BBC employ, and the positions they hold. I am sure that I can find the information at a later date, but it would be interesting to find out how they go about changing the make-up of some of their more successful shows, and how they base decisions to axe certain individuals over others. It is a rather annoying trend of  BBC News, at least, to always have an older man sitting next to a young woman. This must be intentional. Surely they have carried out market research that indicates that this is a successful mix?

Still, it comes down to the sad fact that women still have to fight for recognition and approval even in the 21st century, and that we are far from being equal. We need only to quote that the pay gap between men and women has intensfied last year to 17.1% to realise that there is still much more to be done to realise equality of esteem and rights between men and women in the workplace.

Perhaps the BBC should follow the lead of the National Assembly and celebrate the role of women in the BBC much more so, and put key policies in place ensure that sexism and ageism is eliminated.

Yet of course, the National Assembly is far from perfect, and I am sure the results of the next Assembly election will result in a very different gender make-up- one balanced towards more men being elected as AMs as a result of the changes to the rules in the way some political parties decide on their candidates.

A discussion for another day, perhaps, but another example of the way that gender equality is still a long way away.

I sit on the Communities and Culture Committee at the National Assembly, and we are conducting an inquiry in to the youth justice system in the secure estate. It is a fascinating piece of work, and today Edwina Hart AM announced that Professor Rod Morgan from Bristol University would be conducting an inquiry into the benefits and risks of devolving the youth justice system to Wales, which will report by the end of the year.

In her evidence session to the committee today, the Minister emphasised the divergence of opinion between Wales and Westminster on this matter- eg disagreeing with the fixed penalties system, against the incarceration of young people, and the educational implications on young Welsh people who are in English prisons.

Most of the evidence that we have taken to date calls for the devolution of the youth justice system, and today, we took superb evidence from The Howard League for Penal Reform- Andrew Neilson, who is the Assistant Director. He told us of the necessity to devolve the criminal justice system so that we can deliver on the rights based agenda of the Welsh Assembly Government, and so that young Welsh people are treated fairly. A few quotes from Andrew stuck in my mind. One was in relation to the fact that the UK government is obsessed with locking people up instead of looking at alternative measures. He said ‘ the problem with prisons are that they make us prisoners in our thinking’.

Another interesting point that he made was on the back of the fact that Members present stated their experiences of having visited some of the secure estates in England, and Hillside in Wales as part of the inquiry.  Andrew said in response to a comment Mark Isherwood AM made about meeting some young people who actually wanted to be in a secure estate as it gave them structure and boundaries- ‘ it surprises me that it has taken a Welsh child, in an English prison, to talk to AMs about how they actually feel’.

There’s still a long way to go in this inquiry yet, but I can imagine that the same themes will crop up over the need to devolve the youth justice system to Wales in order for Welsh Ministers to be able to prioritise budgets to implement ideas and initiatives which differ from that of Westminster- which usually centres on locking them up, and throwing away the key……

Fel yr Aelod Cynulliad i Blaid Gymru sydd yn canolbwyntio ar faterion diwylliannol, mae’n orfodol i mi ymateb yn fyr i adroddiad y pwyllgor materion cymreig ar y gorchymyn iaith a ddaeth allan ddoe. Wrth gwrs, mae’n bleser mawr i ni fel Plaid bod y pwyllgor yn unfrydol mai yn y Cynulliad y dylid deddfu dros yr iaith. Mae hwn yn egwyddor hynod bwysig sy’n cael ei amlygu gan yr ASau  (ond yn y Cynulliad y dylem ddeddfu ar bopeth, ynte!)

Nawr mae’n bwysig i ni barhau ar hast gyda’r camau nesaf er mwyn i’r gorchymyn yma ddod yn realiti, ac er mwyn i Lywodraeth Cymru’n Un weithredu yn y maes. Mae’r broses wedi bod yn hir fel ag y mae, ac felly dwi’n gyndyn iawn i gytuno gyda’r argymhelliad yn yr adroddiad bod angen i’r pwyllgor materion cymreig cael ail dro i asesu’r gorchymyn yn y dyfodol. Mae hyn, yn ol beth dwi’n deall, yn deillio o’r ffaith bod consyrn ynghylch y ffaith nad yw rhai cwmniau preifat yn cael ei crybwyll yn y gorchymyn, tra fod eraill yn cael eu henwi yn y gorchymyn, ac hefyd yr amwysedd ynghylch yr angen i gwmniau a mudiadau sy’n derbyn dros £200,000 o arian gyhoeddus weithredu o dan oblygiadau’r ddeddf. Tra fod angen gwneud mwy o waith ar hwn, dwi ddim yn credu mai adroddiad arall gan y pwyllgor materion cymreig yw’r ateb.

Mae’r pwyllgor hefyd yn gofyn am fwy o fanylion o swyddogaeth y Comisynydd Iaith. Yn fy marn i, nid lle yr ASau yw i fynnu manylion o’r fath. Bydd cwestiynnau o’r natur yma yn dod yn ystod cyfnod penderfynnu ar y mesurau yn y Cynulliad. Does dim pwynt i’r pwyllgor gytuno mai’r Cynulliad y dylid gwneud penderfyniadau ar yr iaith, os ydynt am gael manylion y mesurau sydd heb cael eu hysgrifennu eto er mwyn cyfiawnhau trosglwyddo’r pwerau i ni!

Dwi ddim chwaith yn cytuno gyda’r awgrym bod angen rhoi arbrofion o sut byddai mesurau yn gweithio- eu cost, a’u heffaith ar gyrff, yn ystod proses cytuno’r gorchymyn. Mae hwn i mi yn symbol arall o ymgais San Steffan i geisio rheoli’r hyn a fydd, efallai, yn ymddangos yn y mesurau. Eto, rol y Cynulliad fydd hwn. Dyma’r dyfyniad o’r pwyllgor-

‘These might include a test of reasonableness, a test of proportionality, and a consideration of the cost to demonstrate that the application of any Measure to particular bodies or organisations will, in the long term, provide a cost-effective benefit to the public in terms of the use of the Welsh language’.

Felly, dwi’n croesawu bod y broses penodol yma nawr ar ben, ond dwi’n awyddus bod y cam nesaf tuag at dynnu’r pwerau draw i’r Cynulliad yn parhau yn sydyn. Does dim awydd gen i, nag eraill mae’n siwr, i’r broses arafu i’r fath raddau na fydd cyfle i’w himplementeiddio.

Dyma barn Cymdeithas yr Iaith ar y mater, a dyma barn y pwyllgor.

I’ve wanted to blog about this in a long while- purely to make my views well and truly clear on my right as a politician elected to the National Assembly for Wales to take a vague interest in International affairs, and to discuss such topics either here on this very blog- or in the work that I do as an AM. Its safe to say that when we had a debate on Gaza at the Assembly, while the majority of people welcomed the move, I did receive some scathing emails about ‘wasting taxpayers money’,'pushing our nose into areas beyond our control’. You know the type of thing.

 This was of course ignoring the fact that we had Welsh charities helping those living in Gaza, that the Welsh Government sent medical help, and that people such as myself have Palestinian constituents, with families living out there- desperate for our support, be it through strong political statements or practical help. The debate at the Assembly happened regardless, and it was a lively and engaging debate.

The same concern with AMs discussing International issues cropped up again last week, when I dared to hint that I would be mentioning the protests in Iran and Moldova in the context of my debate on how people use twitter to engage and to mobilise mass action. How dare I contemplate talking about issues outside the control of the Assembly! How dare I waste taxpayers money like this! But again, this is a narrow minded, and introverted argument. I am a member of a party that is fighting for Wales to be recognised on a World stage, where we can be equal, and where we have stature and influence. If we shy away from commenting on International issues then we are doing our constituents a disservice. Surely they have a right to know what our opinions are on a broad range of issues? I get emails asking my opinion on ID cards, trident, asylum seekers, youth justice from constituents. Should I just not reply,  send a generic email back, saying not my problem, guv?

And of course, this matter is relevant in that the Welsh Assembly Government has offices in different countries- in Brussels and in China for example. We have trade agreements with such countries, and spend a lot of money developing links to encourage economic investment to Wales. We need to be aware of what is happening on a global stage for that very reason alone.

I am a Nationalist in that I want full powers for Wales, but I am an Internationalist in that I want Wales to look outwards, learn from what is happening in different countries, and bring those creative new ideas back to Wales. I see no rhyme nor reason why this should be contentious, only in that some narrow minded people

 ( mostly, but not exclusively, from Unionist parties) want to ensure that Wales does what it’s told from the ‘leaders’ in Westminster, and keep quiet on such issues so as not to rock the boat. Now, where’s the justice in that?

Heddi, mae stori yn y Western Mail gyda dyfyniadau gan bobl di enw yn y Blaid Lafur bod yna bosibilrwydd cryf i’r Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol ymuno gyda ni a Llafur yn y glymblaid ar ol i Rhodri Morgan ymddeol. Dwi’n sicr heb glywed unrhyw si o’r fath, ond does dim gwadu bod pobl yn siarad am y ras arweinyddol o fewn y Blaid Lafur, a sut fedrir effeithio ar Cymru’n Un- os fydd yr arweinydd newydd am dynnu allan o’r glymblaid ayb. Mae hwn yn drafodaeth wahanol iawn i’r Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol yn ymuno a’r glymblaid sydd ohoni.

Dwi’m yn sicr felly faint o gryfder sydd i’r stori yma. Mae’n eithaf chwerthynllyd bod y Demorcratiaid Rhyddfrydol wedi ymateb mor gadarnhaol i’r cysyniad o liwio’r glymblaid yn felyn o feddwl nad oedd diddordeb ganddynt nol yn 2007 i weithio gyda’r Blaid Lafur, na chwaith y glymblaid Enfys. Dwi’n credu bod y Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol yn ofni cyfaddef pa mor effeithiol mae’r glymblaid presenol- ac yntau fel Plaid gwrthwynebol- yn gwneud, yn enwedig Elin Jones fel Gweinidog. Mae hi yn fygythiad cryf i’r Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol yn Ngheredigion yng nhyd destun codi proffil y Blaid ar gyfer ennill y sedd San Steffan yn ol y flwyddyn nesaf.

Mae dyfyniad di enw arall yn erthygl Martin Shipton gan Blaid Cymru- yn awgrymu bod rhai aelodau o Llafur yn cydweithredu gyda’r Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol i ledaenu straeon fel hwn er mwyn tanseilio Ieuan Wyn Jones yn ei rol fel Gweinidog dros yr economi. Dyw e ddim yn sioc i ddweud bod Kirsty Williams am waed Ieuan bob tro mae cwestiynnau iddo yn y Cynulliad, ond eto, hyd yn oed os yw rhai aelodau o Llafur a’r Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol yn siarad- beth ydy’r ots? Pam rhoi hygrededd iddynt? Roedd y blaid wedi colli’r cyfle i fod mewn llywodraeth yma yng Nghymru, ac nawr, yn ol y son, yn ceisio gwthio ei hun ar yr agenda i wneud ei hun yn fwy perthnasol i hynt a helynt gwleidyddiaeth Cymru.Rwy’n teimlo’n flin drostynt mewn ffordd od.

Ta waeth, dyna fy marn bach i am y stori. Mae pethau’n newid o ddydd i ddydd mewn gwleidyddiaeth, ond yn bersonol, dwi ddim yn credu mai nawr yw’r amser i drafod newid y drefn clymbleidiol sydd ohoni yng Nghymru yn enwedig yn ngolau’r sefyllfa economaidd. Mae angen i’r Llywodraeth presenol barhau gyda’r gwaith cadarnhaol o mynd i’r afael a’r problemau, rhoi strategaethau yn ei le, a chyllid i fusnesau sydd yn dioddef ac i bobl sydd yn cael ei wneud yn ddiwaith. Hynny sy’n bwysig, nid y ‘siarad’ sy’n digwydd ar hyd coridorau’r Cynulliad, neu rhwng Mr Shipton a’r di-enw rhai…..

I’ve had a busy week. I delivered my short debate on the twitter revolution on Wednesday, and you can read it here. Please let me know what you think, or if you have any ideas of your own about how technology and social media can assist in renewing the democratic process. I’ve had good feedback generally- a few more politicians aware of what’s out there, and a chance to put forward some new ideas on the matter.

Taking the particular theme of the debate I chose to one side for a minute, I have been of the mindset for some time that the slot of the short debate needs to be changed. It has been mentioned on the blogosphere a few times previously. I’ve put forward ideas in our group meetings- asking for a government backbench debate slot, or at least a review of how the slot works in terms of engaging AMs in debate, but there hasn’t been much progress. I spoke with Andrew RT Davies AM this week, who suggested that what could work is for our main sessions in the Assembly to start half and hour earlier for such debates, and it would be voluntary in terms of AMs being present, yet I am not sure what to make of this unless we can be convinced that genuine change will ensue, and that people will be enthused by it. Linking short debates to popular statements of opinions has been another idea, but again, I think we need to build momentum around the debate for change. Perhaps this can be done online? Should we initiate an e-consultation on it? Does it really matter? and so forth…

I have to mention also that a new strategy on eating disorders was released from the Welsh Assembly Government last week. There were complications around its release which meant that it hardly got any coverage. I’m trying to see whether the Government can do a press statement because I really want everyone to know that it is out there now, and that change is afoot.

The first trance of money will go towards recruiting new staff at a primary care level and for training, and those in the field will then put forward plans to develop the tertiary element which will come in to play down the line. I’m really proud of the fact that there is now a framework in place in Wales for those with eating disorders. Now its the role of the cross party group, Beat Cymru and so forth to monitor its implementation, and to ensure that the situation changes for sufferers and their families. Of course, there’s still much more to campaign on from a political point of view. More awareness via the education system and through healthy living networks, and lobby for a specialised  NHS centre to treat those with eating disorders in Wales so that the Welsh NHS does not have to commission private treatment in England. I’m writing a piece for the Western Mail health section on the new framework, but I am conscious of the need to get the message out there to all parts of Wales, and to emphasise that there are no excuses for inaction from here on in.

On Monday I’m taking part in a panel discussion in a Conference on One Wales- two years in organised by the Bevan Foundation and Postif Politics. I think that Darren Millar AM and Lesley Griffiths AM are on the panel- talking about our experiences of being first time AMs, and from a backbench perspective, or course. I’m looking forward to it, in that even though we should not reflect too much on the last two years to the detriment of getting on with the job- I think that its important that we assess where the Government is getting it right, where there are weaknesses, and where progress can be made. I am sure that you have your own views and ideas on the matter. …

Oh, and to finish, I’m supporting Andy Murray to get to the final of Wimbledon this year! Although I bet that he will have a British flag foisted upon him should he win..grrr….

Dyma erthygl dwi wedi sgwennu ar gyfer y wefan Metastwnsh ar fy nadl fer fyddaf yn gwneud y prynhawn yma yn y Senedd.

Y Chwyldro Twitter- yr angen am adnewyddiad democrataidd?

Byddaf yn cyflwyno dadl fer yn y Cynulliad i drafod sut mae defnydd o’r we a thechnoleg wedi esblygu, a’u heffaith ar systemau democrataidd. Dwi ddim am ddweud gormod am gynnwys fy araith, ond rwy’n bwriadu dangos clipiau ar ffilm o sut mae pobl yn cyfathrebu gyda gwleidyddion ar y we, pa mor effeithiol ydyw, a sut medrwn datblygu ar hyn. Dwi hefyd yn awyddus i bobl cymryd rhan yn y drafodaeth ar twitter trwy postio sylwadau gyda #senedd, ac hynny yn bennaf er mwyn i’r drafodaeth fod yn fwy eang nag i gynnwys ni fel Aelodau Cynulliad yn y Siambr yn unig.

Mae twf defnydd o dechnoleg wedi bod yn syfrdanol, yn enwedig yn sgil y modd unigryw y cafodd ei ddefnyddio gan Barak Obama pan oedd e’n sefyll fel Llywydd yr UDA. Mae’r effaith ym Mhrydain wedi bod yn llai hyd yn hyn, ond yr un mor pwysig, gyda tua 10% o Aelodau Seneddol nawr yn dewis defnyddio’r safle rhwydweithio Facebook i hysbysebu eu gwaith neu i gyfathrebu gyda etholwyr yn ol y Gymdeithas Hansard, gyda thwf yn yr aelodau etholedig sydd yn blogio, yn ffilmio clipiau byr ar gyfer youtube, neu yn lawlwytho lluniau i raglennu megis Flickr.

Wrth gwrs mae hyn oll yn gadarnhaol, ond rhaid i gyfathrebiaeth ar y we gan wleidyddion bod yn ddidwyll, a rhaid iddynt cynnal yr ymgais hynny i gyfathrebu gyda etholwyr ar y we. Dyna’r hyn y mae ymchwil gan Hansard yn amlygu- mae’n iawn i aelodau etholedig gael tudalen facebook, neu blog snazzy, ond os nad ydynt yn ei ddefnyddio yn aml fel rhan annatod o’u gwaith pob dydd, yna mae eu heffaith yn pylu.

Yn y drafodaeth, dwi hefyd yn awyddus i ofyn os ydy cyfathrebiaeth gan wleidyddion ar y we yn helpu creu system democrataidd mwy agored a thryloyw? Yn ol Andy Williamson o Gymdeithas Hansard, mae’r ffaith bod Senedd yrAlban wedi rhoi lwfansau Aelodau’r Senedd ar y we wedi sicrhau bod y system yn llawer fwy agored i aelodau’r cyhoedd, a bod y sefydliad felly wedi osgoi y creisis ffydd sydd wedi bod mor amlwg yng nghyd destun San Steffan.

Ac wrth gwrs, rwy’n benderfynol o drafod sut mae pobl yn defnyddio twitter, facebook ac ati i ymgyrchu’n effeithiol, ac i ledaenu ei neges. A yw Confensiwn Cymru Gyfan wedi llwyddo yn yr ymgais hyn, tybed? Pa mor effeithiol ydy ymgais Ty’r Arglwyddi wedi bod wrth gyflwyno ymgynghoriadau ar y we? A yw gwledydd fel Moldova ac Iran wedi defnyddio’r technoleg fel modd o rhoi barn sy’n wrthyn i sefydliadau eu gwledydd, ac a yw hwn wedi bod o werth?…..

Mae hwn yn drafodaeth pwysig a chyffroes, a dwi’n awyddus i bobl sy’n darllen y wefan yma i gymryd rhan.