Translate the text from English to Welsh.



 
On the 26 November, I chaired the nineteenth Summit of the British\-Irish Council (BIC) in Cardiff.  The meeting was attended by Edwina Hart, Minister for Business, Enterprise, Technology and Science, and Leighton Andrews, Minister for Education and Skills; and by lead Ministers from the other BIC Member Administrations including:


* An Taoiseach, Mr. Enda Kenny TD, of the Irish Government,
* Secretary of State for Wales, Rt. Hon David Jones MP, of the UK Government,
* First Minister, the Rt. Hon. Peter Robinson MLA, and deputy First Minister, Mr. Martin McGuinness MP MLA, of the Northern Ireland Executive,
* Deputy First Minister, Ms. Nicola Sturgeon MSP, of the Scottish Government,
* Chief Minister, Senator Ian Gorst, of the Government of Jersey,
* Chief Minister, Deputy Peter Harwood, of the Government of Guernsey,
* Chief Minister, Hon. Allan Bell MHK, of the Government of the Isle of Man.


 


The BIC continues to play a unique and important role in furthering, promoting and developing links between its Member Administrations and in providing a forum for consultation and co\-operation. On this occasion, the Summit provided an opportunity for Member Administrations to discuss two substantive items: the economy, with a specific focus on infrastructure developments as a means to promote economic growth; and early years policy across the British Islands and Ireland.


On the economy, I set out how the Welsh economy is inextricably linked to the UK and global economies and is influenced by the monetary and fiscal policies set by the UK Government. I emphasised that jobs and the economy remain the Welsh Government’s over\-riding priorities and although the labour market situation in Wales is improving, many of the jobs created over the past year remain part\-time. I highlighted the recent conclusions reported by the Silk Commission that a range of new taxes should be devolved to Wales.  This would open the door to a new financial settlement for Wales that includes both borrowing powers and some devolved taxes, which is essential if we are to be given the tools to boost the economy in Wales and provide a new lever to support economic growth.


The Minister for Business, Enterprise, Technology and Science emphasised how Wales needs a modern, sustainable infrastructure to underpin economic growth. The Minister set out Welsh Government priorities contained within the Wales Infrastructure Investment Plan, including improving telecommunication networks and the development of Enterprise Zones in Wales. The Minister welcomed the electrification of the Great Western Main Line to Swansea and the Valley Lines network, which would both strengthen transport corridors and provide economic benefits during the construction phase. The Minister stressed that the Welsh Government does not have control over all energy related infrastructure spend within Wales, but where it does, the Welsh Government is committed to working with the private sector to maximise the investment opportunities.  The Minister also highlighted concerns raised by manufacturers regarding the high price of energy in the UK, particularly for those industries producing internationally traded goods.  Energy intensive industries are key contributors to the Welsh economy and high energy prices are impacting on their ability to remain competitive.


On early years policy, the Minister for Education and Skills drew attention to the fact that Wales is one of only a few Countries in the world to put the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) into domestic law with the Rights of Children and Young Persons Measure which places a duty on the Welsh Ministers to consider the UNCRC in all their work.  The Minister set out how improving key outcomes for children and young people is a priority for the Welsh Government and this is supported through increased funding for early years intervention programmes including Flying Start and the Foundation Phase. The Minister emphasised that the quality of the workforce is important and ways to invest in the skills of the workforce and development of childcare enterprises are being considered. The Minister outlined the commitment to seeing the Welsh Language thrive and how this is underpinned by Welsh\-medium Education and Welsh Language Strategies which provide great emphasis on supporting children to learn and use the Welsh language at a young age within formal education, and socially through play. The Minister also highlighted the impact of poverty on our children and, through the Tackling Poverty Action Plan, how the Welsh Government is keeping a strong focus on child poverty.  


The key discussion points of the nineteenth Summit were published in a joint Communiqué, which is attached.  





### Documents


* #### Communiqué ,
 file type: doc, file size: 206 KB



206 KB







Translation:


 
Ar 26 Tachwedd, cadeiriais bedwaredd uwchgynhadledd ar bymtheg y Cyngor Prydeinig\-Gwyddelig yng Nghaerdydd. Yn bresennol oedd Edwina Hart, y Gweinidog Busnes, Menter, Technoleg a Gwyddoniaeth, Leighton Andrews, y Gweinidog Addysg a Sgiliau, a Gweinidogion arweiniol o Aelod Weinyddiaethau eraill y Cyngor gan gynnwys:

* An Taoiseach, Mr Enda Kenny TD, o Lywodraeth Iwerddon
* Ysgrifennydd Glwadol Cymru, y Gwir Anrhydeddus David Jones AS, o Lywodraeth y DU
* Prif Weinidog Gweithrediaeth Gogledd Iwerddon, y Gwir Anrhydeddus Peter Robinson MLA a’r Dirprwy Brif Weinidog, Mr Martin McGuinness AS MLA
* Dirprwy Brif Weinidog Llywodraeth yr Alban, Ms Nicola Sturgeon MSP
* Prif Weinidog Llywodraeth Jersey, y Seneddwr Ian Gorst
* Prif Weinidog Llywodraeth Guernsey, y Dirprwy Peter Harwood
* Prif Weinidog Llywodraeth Ynys Manaw, yr Anrhydeddus Allan Bell MHK.

Mae’r Cyngor Prydeinig\-Gwyddelig yn parhau i chwarae rôl unigryw a phwysig o ran hybu, hyrwyddo a datblygu cysylltiadau rhwng yr Aelod Weinyddiaethau ac mae’n fforwm ar gyfer ymgynghori a chydweithredu. Y tro hwn, roedd yr Uwchgynhadledd yn gyfle i’r Aelod Weinyddiaethau drafod dwy eitem bwysig: yr economi, gan ganolbwyntio'n benodol ar ddatblygu'r seilwaith i hybu twf economaidd; a pholisi'r blynyddoedd cynnar ar draws Ynysoedd Prydain ac Iwerddon.

O ran yr economi, soniais am y cyswllt annatod rhwng economi Cymru ac economïau'r DU a’r byd a sut y mae’r polisïau ariannol a ddatblygwyd gan Lywodraeth y DU yn dylanwadu arni. Pwysleisiais mai swyddi a'r economi yw prif flaenoriaethau Llywodraeth Cymru o hyd. Er bod sefyllfa'r farchnad lafur yng Nghymru yn gwella, soniais mai swyddi rhan\-amser oedd llawer iawn o'r swyddi a grëwyd dros y flwyddyn ddiwethaf. Tynnais sylw at gasgliadau diweddar Comisiwn Silk sef y dylai ystod o drethi newydd gael eu datganoli i Gymru. Byddai hyn yn fodd i gael setliad ariannol newydd i Gymru sy'n cynnwys pwerau benthyca a rhai trethu datganoledig. Mae hyn yn hanfodol er mwyn i ni gael dulliau newydd o hybu'r economi yng Nghymru a chefnogi twf economaidd.

Pwysleisiodd y Gweinidog Busnes, Menter, Technoleg a Gwyddoniaeth fod angen seilwaith modern a chynaliadwy ar Gymru er mwyn sicrhau twf economaidd. Amlinellodd y Gweinidog flaenoriaethau Llywodraeth Cymru yng Nghynllun Buddsoddi yn Seilwaith Cymru, gan gynnwys gwella'r rhwydweithiau telathrebu a datblygu Ardaloedd Menter yng Nghymru. Croesawodd y Gweinidog y bwriad i drydaneiddio Prif Reilffordd y Great Western i Abertawe a rhwydwaith Rheilffordd y Cymoedd, a fyddai'n cryfhau'r coridor trafnidiaeth ac yn dod â manteision economaidd yn ystod y cam adeiladu. Pwysleisiodd y Gweinidog nad oes gan Lywodraeth Cymru reolaeth dros yr holl wariant ar seilwaith yng Nghymru sy'n gysylltiedig ag ynni. Ond yn y meysydd hynny lle mae ganddi reolaeth, mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi ymrwymo i weithio gyda'r sector cyhoeddus i sicrhau cymaint o fuddsoddiad â phosibl.  Soniodd y Gweinidog hefyd am y pryderon a godwyd gan weithgynhyrchwyr ynghylch pris uchel ynni yn y DU, yn enwedig ar gyfer y diwydiannau hynny sy'n cynhyrchu nwyddau i’w masnachu’n rhyngwladol. Mae diwydiannau sy'n defnyddio llawer o ynni yn gyfranwyr allweddol i economi Cymru ac mae prisiau ynni uchel yn effeithio ar eu gallu i barhau i gystadlu.

O ran polisi'r blynyddoedd cynnar, tynnodd y Gweinidog Addysg a Sgiliau sylw at y ffaith bod Cymru'n un o'r ychydig wledydd yn y byd sydd wedi cynnwys Confensiwn y Cenhedloedd Unedig ar Hawliau'r Plentyn (CCUHP) mewn cyfraith ddomestig ym Mesur Hawliau Plant a Phobl Ifanc, sy'n rhoi dyletswydd ar Weinidogion Cymru i ystyried y CCUHP yn eu gwaith. Esboniodd y Gweinidog fod gwella'r canlyniadau allweddol ar gyfer plant a phobl ifanc yn flaenoriaeth i Lywodraeth Cymru. Dywedodd fod hyn yn cael ei gyflawni drwy gynyddu'r cyllid ar gyfer rhaglenni ymyrraeth gynnar gan gynnwys Dechrau'n Deg a'r Cyfnod Sylfaen. Pwysleisiodd hefyd fod ansawdd y gweithlu yn bwysig a bod ystyriaeth yn cael ei roi i ffyrdd o fuddsoddi yn sgiliau'r gweithlu a datblygu mentrau gofal plant. Disgrifiodd y Gweinidog yr ymrwymiad i sicrhau bod yr iaith Gymraeg yn ffynnu. Dywedodd fod Strategaethau Addysg Cyfrwng Cymraeg ac Iaith Gymraeg ar waith i gyflawni hyn sy'n rhoi pwys mawr ar helpu plant i ddysgu a defnyddio'r iaith Gymraeg yn ifanc iawn o fewn addysg ffurfiol, ac yn gymdeithasol drwy chwarae. Soniodd hefyd am yr effaith y mae tlodi'n ei chael ar ein plant a sut y mae Llywodraeth Cymru’n parhau i ganolbwyntio'n gryf ar dlodi plant drwy'r Cynllun Gweithredu ar gyfer Trechu Tlodi.  

Cyhoeddwyd prif bwyntiau trafodaethau’r bedwaredd uwchgynhadledd ar bymtheg mewn Cyd\-hysbysiad, sydd wedi'i amgáu.  

  




### Dogfennau


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 Saesneg yn unig,
 math o ffeil: doc, maint ffeil: 206 KB


Saesneg yn unig

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