Translate the text from English to Welsh.



 
I attended the 37th meeting of the British\-Irish Council on 7/8 July, which was hosted by the Government of Guernsey. The Minister for Climate Change attended the meeting virtually.


The meeting was chaired by the Chief Minister of the Government of Guernsey, Deputy Peter Ferbrache. Other attendees included An Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD, the First Minister of Scotland the Rt Hon Nicola Sturgeon MSP, the Chief Minister of Jersey Senator John Le Fondré, the Chief Minister of the Isle of Man Alfred Cannan MHK, and the Rt. Hon. Conor Burns MP, Minister of State for Northern Ireland.


Before the main BIC meeting, I took part in a discussion with the other Heads of Delegation on the Cost of Living crisis. We took the opportunity to share our most pressing concerns, offering examples of the actions our Governments are taking and noted areas where further action was needed. As part of this I emphasised the need for action to be taken on the inequity where energy customers on pre\-payment meters also face standing charges.


The theme of this Council meeting was Collaborative Spatial Planning. The Minister for Climate Change attended virtually a constructive and informative inter\-Ministerial discussion on this topic ahead of the Council meeting, and the Council then also discussed the matter. The Council noted potential opportunities to revitalise our towns and make them places where people want to live, do business, and spend their leisure time, while delivering on a range of wider outcomes including inclusive development, addressing climate change, supporting green recovery and promoting active and sustainable travel.


In addition, the Council discussed the latest political developments including: the cost of living crisis, particularly in the areas of fuel and housing; ongoing relations with the EU, and the concerning current situation in relation to the Northern Ireland Protocol; climate change; developments in Ukraine and the continuing challenges posed by the Covid\-19 pandemic.


In contributing to this discussion, I highlighted a number of areas that need to remain as high priorities for the BIC:


* the cost of living crisis and the need for significant further action to support vulnerable households struggling with rising costs;
* Ukraine, and the continued imperative to support refugees fleeing the conflict;
* the ongoing impact of Covid\-19, which would continue to put pressure on public services and for which effective collective planning needs to be in place for the coming winter;
* the concerning impacts of Brexit including on trade and Welsh ports, and the need for  improvements in the trading and wider relationship between the UK and the EU; and
* climate change, which remains an overarching priority for all Governments and where new issues cannot lead to compromises to the detriment of future generations.


I also reflected briefly on political developments within the UK Government, and the need for the next Prime Minister to reset relationships based on productive and respectful dialogue.


A joint Communiqué was issued after the meeting, which is available at:


https://www.britishirishcouncil.org/bic/summits 


The British\-Irish Council published its Annual Report 2020/21 in June, which is available at:


https://www.britishirishcouncil.org/


The next Council Summit will be hosted by the UK Government.


This statement is being issued during recess in order to keep members informed. Should members wish me to make a further statement or to answer questions on this when the Senedd returns I would be happy to do so.


 







Translation:


 
Ar 7/8 Gorffennaf, mynychais y 37ain cyfarfod o'r Cyngor Prydeinig\-Gwyddelig, a gafodd ei gynnal gan Lywodraeth Guernsey. Roedd y Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd hefyd yn bresennol, gan ymuno â’r cyfarfod o bell.


Cadeiriwyd y cyfarfod gan y Dirprwy Peter Ferbrache, Prif Weinidog Llywodraeth Guernsey. Roedd y cynrychiolwyr eraill a oedd yn bresennol yn cynnwys Micheál Martin TD, Taoiseach Iwerddon, y Gwir Anrh Nicola Sturgeon ASA, Prif Weinidog yr Alban, y Seneddwr John Le Fondré, Prif Weinidog Jersey, Alfred Cannan MHK, Prif Weinidog Ynys Manaw a'r Gwir Anrh Conor Burns AS, y Gweinidog Gwladol dros Ogledd Iwerddon.


Cyn  prif gyfarfod y Cyngor Prydeinig\-Gwyddelig, cymerais ran mewn trafodaeth gyda phenaethiaid eraill y ddirprwyaeth ar yr argyfwng Costau Byw. Manteisiwyd ar y cyfle i rannu ein pryderon mwyaf dybryd, gan gynnig enghreifftiau o'r camau gweithredu y mae ein Llywodraethau yn eu cymryd a nodi’r meysydd lle yr oedd angen cymryd camau pellach. Fel rhan o hyn, pwysleisiais yr angen i gymryd camau gweithredu ar yr annhegwch pan fo cwsmeriaid ynni ar fesuryddion rhagdalu hefyd yn wynebu ffioedd sefydlog.


Cynllunio Gofodol Cydweithredol oedd thema'r cyfarfod hwn o'r Cyngor. Cymerodd y Gweinidog Newid Hinsawdd ran yn rhithwir mewn trafodaeth ryngweinidogol adeiladol lle rhannwyd llawer o wybodaeth am y pwnc hwn cyn y cyfarfod o’r Cyngor, a thrafodwyd y mater yn y Cyngor hefyd. Nododd y Cyngor gyfleoedd posibl i adfywio ein trefi a’u gwneud yn fannau lle mae pobl am fyw, cynnal busnes, a threulio eu hamser hamdden, gan gyflawni ar yr un pryd amrediad o ganlyniadau ehangach sy’n cynnwys datblygu cynhwysol, mynd i’r afael â’r newid hinsawdd, cefnogi adferiad gwyrdd a hybu teithio llesol a chynaliadwy.


At hynny, trafododd y Cyngor y datblygiadau gwleidyddol diweddaraf gan gynnwys: yr argyfwng costau byw, yn enwedig ym meysydd tanwydd a thai; y berthynas barhaus â'r UE, a’r sefyllfa bresennol sy’n peri pryder o ran Protocol Gogledd Iwerddon; newid hinsawdd; y datblygiadau yn Wcráin a'r heriau parhaus a achosir gan y pandemig COVID\-19\.


Wrth gyfrannu at y drafodaeth hon, amlygais nifer o feysydd y mae angen iddynt barhau ar frig rhestr blaenoriaethau’r Cyngor Prydeinig\-Gwyddelig:


* yr argyfwng costau byw a’r angen am gamau pellach sylweddol i gefnogi aelwydydd sy’n agored i niwed sy’n cael trafferth gyda chostau cynyddol
* Wcráin, a’r rheidrwydd parhaus i gefnogi ffoaduriaid sy’n ffoi rhag y gwrthdaro
* effaith barhaus COVID\-19, a fydd yn parhau i roi pwysau ar wasanaethau cyhoeddus ac y mae angen sicrhau bod cynlluniau effeithiol ar y cyd ar waith ar gyfer y gaeaf sy’n dod
* effeithiau pryderus Brexit gan gynnwys ar fasnach a phorthladdoedd Cymru, a’r angen am welliannau yn y fasnach a’r berthynas ehangach rhwng y DU a’r UE
* newid hinsawdd, sy’n parhau i fod yn flaenoriaeth drosfwaol i bob Llywodraeth ac yn faes lle na ellir cyfaddawdu ar draul y cenedlaethau sydd i ddod wrth ymateb i faterion newydd.


Soniais yn fyr hefyd am ddatblygiadau gwleidyddol yn Llywodraeth y DU, a’r angen i’r Prif Weinidog nesaf ailosod perthnasoedd yn seiliedig ar ddeialog gynhyrchiol a pharchus.


Cyhoeddwyd Hysbysiad ar y cyd ar ôl y cyfarfod, sydd ar gael yn:


https://www.britishirishcouncil.org/bic/summits


Cyhoeddodd y Cyngor Prydeinig\-Gwyddelig ei Adroddiad Blynyddol ar gyfer 2020/21 ym mis Mehefin, sydd ar gael yn:


https://www.britishirishcouncil.org/


Bydd Uwchgynhadledd nesaf y Cyngor yn cael ei chynnal gan Lywodraeth y DU.


Caiff y datganiad hwn ei gyhoeddi yn ystod y toriad er mwyn rhoi’r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i’r Aelodau. Os hoffai’r Aelodau i mi wneud datganiad pellach neu ateb cwestiynau ar hyn pan fydd y Senedd yn dychwelyd, byddaf yn hapus i wneud hynny.