English: Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer, for the opportunity to speak in this very important debate. I'd actually like to start by praising the work of Funky Dragon. I think that the work that Funky Dragon did over many years had much merit. I had a lot of contact with Funky Dragon for many years in Westminster, and I know that they did empower many of their members to go forward and to take prominent places in their community. Certainly, we know that some of them went forward and became councillors, and that they've campaigned on issues. I think that Funky Dragon did an enormous amount of good. I do regret that we didn't move from Funky Dragon to a youth parliament because that would have avoided this gap and this feeling that we've been left behind in this particular area of work, which, of course, we have to acknowledge, we have been. We are lagging behind other countries, and we've already heard about the fact that the UK parliament has been up since 1999 and, of course, a lot of progress has been made there. The young people now sit on the hallowed green benches, which was a big fight to actually get them to be there, but they do actually debate in that Chamber now, in the House of Commons. Also, the young people there are very representative. When I met a group of young people, I was really pleased that there were Gypsy/Travellers represented as young members of Parliament. So, I thought that that's the sort of thing we need to think of to make sure that every group is represented. Of course, the Scottish parliament has already been referred to. The Scottish Youth Parliament has members aged 14 to 25, and they represent all of the 32 local authorities in Scotland. So, again, I think that that's a very good model that we can look at. There are youth parliaments all over Europe, and, of course, there is a European Youth Parliament. The youth parliaments of the devolved nations, and of all the nations, send representatives to that youth parliament. In the UK we have the power to send people to the youth parliament. I just feel, at this time, when it's so important for us to keep as many links as we can with Europe, and to build up our links with Europe, that that is going to be a way that, when we hopefully set up the youth parliament, we will have strong links with the European Youth Parliament. I think it is important to engage young people at an early age with the political process. I know that, in the earlier debate, which I wasn't present for all of, there was a discussion about the votes for 16 and 17-year-olds. That's something that I campaigned on for many years along with Funky Dragon. It was one of their five priorities at one time - and along with the British Youth Council. I do feel that there is now a mood coming to this Chamber from all parts, including on the Conservative benches, towards votes for 16 and 17-year-olds. But I do agree; nothing is a golden bullet. Not one thing by itself will ensure that we have young people's voices actually embedded in everything we do, because that is what we want to do, and that is what actually is in our laws. Because the children's rights Measure does mean that we are supposed to consider everything we do, how it impacts on children - and the future generations Bill as well. That's written into it. But in order to make that happen, we have to have young people to use as a reference point. We have to have young people to tell us what they think about things. The way that we will improve the laws we make is by having the voice of young people there. I just think we can't do that without having a representative body. So, I think it's very cheering that we've reached this point today. I think the important thing - I know we will discuss different models, and I don't think it's the time for it today, as the mover of the motion said - today is the time for us to really show our support for a youth parliament for Wales, to continue with our tradition of fighting for children's rights, and giving children a real say in what we do here in the Assembly.
Welsh: Diolch yn fawr iawn, Ddirprwy Lywydd, am y cyfle i siarad yn y ddadl bwysig hon. Mewn gwirionedd hoffwn ddechrau drwy ganmol gwaith y Ddraig Ffynci. Credaf fod llawer i'w ganmol yn y gwaith a wnaeth y Ddraig Ffynci dros nifer o flynyddoedd. Bu cryn dipyn o gysylltiad rhyngof a'r Ddraig Ffynci am nifer o flynyddoedd yn San Steffan, ac rwy'n gwybod eu bod wedi grymuso llawer o'u haelodau i fynd ymlaen ac i gael lle amlwg yn eu cymunedau. Yn sicr, gwyddom fod rhai ohonynt wedi mynd ymlaen i fod yn gynghorwyr, a'u bod wedi ymgyrchu ar faterion. Credaf fod y Ddraig Ffynci wedi gwneud llawer iawn o dda. Rwy'n gresynu na wnaethom symud o'r Ddraig Ffynci i senedd ieuenctid oherwydd byddai hynny wedi osgoi'r bwlch hwn a'r teimlad ein bod wedi cael ein gadael ar ôl yn y maes gwaith penodol hwn, ac mae'n rhaid i ni gydnabod bod hynny'n wir wrth gwrs. Rydym yn llusgo ar ôl gwledydd eraill, a chlywsom eisoes am y ffaith fod senedd y DU wedi'i sefydlu ers 1999 ac wrth gwrs, gwnaed llawer o gynnydd yno. Mae'r bobl ifanc bellach yn eistedd ar y meinciau gwyrdd sanctaidd, a oedd yn frwydr fawr mewn gwirionedd i'w cael yno, ond maent yn trafod yn y Siambr honno yn awr, yn Nhŷ'r Cyffredin. Hefyd, mae'r bobl ifanc yno'n gynrychioliadol iawn. Pan gyfarfûm â grŵp o bobl ifanc, roeddwn yn falch iawn fod yna Sipsiwn/Teithwyr yn cael eu cynrychioli fel aelodau seneddol ifanc. Felly, roeddwn yn meddwl mai dyna'r math o beth sydd angen i ni feddwl amdano i wneud yn siŵr fod pob grŵp yn cael ei gynrychioli. Wrth gwrs, cyfeiriwyd eisoes at Senedd yr Alban. Mae gan Senedd Ieuenctid yr Alban aelodau rhwng 14 a 25 oed, ac maent yn cynrychioli pob un o'r 32 awdurdod lleol yn yr Alban. Felly, unwaith eto, rwy'n meddwl bod hwnnw'n fodel da iawn y gallwn edrych arno. Mae yna seneddau ieuenctid ar hyd a lled Ewrop, ac wrth gwrs, mae yna Senedd Ieuenctid Ewropeaidd. Mae seneddau ieuenctid y cenhedloedd datganoledig, a seneddau'r holl wledydd, yn anfon cynrychiolwyr i'r senedd ieuenctid honno. Yn y DU mae gennym bŵer i anfon pobl i'r senedd ieuenctid. Rwy'n teimlo, ar yr adeg hon, pan fo mor bwysig ein bod yn cadw cynifer o gysylltiadau ag y gallwn ag Ewrop, ac i adeiladu ein cysylltiadau ag Ewrop, fod hynny, gobeithio, yn mynd i fod yn ffordd, pan sefydlwn y senedd ieuenctid, o gael cysylltiadau cryf â'r Senedd Ieuenctid Ewropeaidd. Rwy'n credu ei bod yn bwysig ymgysylltu â phobl ifanc o oed cynnar yn y broses wleidyddol. Yn y ddadl gynharach, nad oeddwn yn bresennol ar ei chyfer i gyd, gwn fod trafodaeth wedi bod ar bleidleisiau ar gyfer rhai 16 a 17 mlwydd oed. Mae hynny'n rhywbeth y bûm yn ymgyrchu drosto am flynyddoedd lawer gyda'r Ddraig Ffynci. Roedd yn o'u pum blaenoriaeth ar un adeg - yn ogystal â Chyngor Ieuenctid Prydain. Rwy'n teimlo bod awydd newydd yn dod i'r Siambr hon bellach o bob rhan, gan gynnwys ar feinciau'r Ceidwadwyr, i weld pleidleisiau i rai 16 a 17 oed. Ond rwy'n cytuno; ni cheir dim sy'n ateb i bopeth. Ni fydd un peth ar ei ben ei hun yn sicrhau bod gennym leisiau pobl ifanc wedi'u gwreiddio mewn gwirionedd ym mhopeth a wnawn, oherwydd dyna rydym am ei wneud, a dyna mewn gwirionedd sydd yn ein cyfreithiau. Oherwydd mae'r Mesur hawliau plant yn golygu ein bod i fod i ystyried popeth a wnawn o ran sut y mae'n effeithio ar blant - a Bil cenedlaethau'r dyfodol yn ogystal. Mae hynny wedi'i ymgorffori ynddo. Ond er mwyn gwneud i hynny ddigwydd, rhaid i ni ddefnyddio pobl ifanc fel cyfeirbwynt. Mae'n rhaid i ni gael pobl ifanc i ddweud wrthym beth yw eu barn am bethau. Y ffordd y gallwn wella'r deddfau a wnawn yw drwy gael llais pobl ifanc yno. Ni allwn wneud hynny heb gael corff cynrychioliadol yn fy marn i. Felly, rwy'n credu ei bod yn galonogol iawn ein bod wedi cyrraedd y pwynt hwn heddiw. Rwy'n meddwl mai'r peth pwysig - gwn y byddwn yn trafod gwahanol fodelau, ac nid wyf yn credu mai heddiw yw'r amser iawn ar gyfer hynny fel y dywedodd cynigydd y cynnig - heddiw yw'r amser i ni ddangos ein cefnogaeth yn iawn i senedd ieuenctid Cymru, i barhau â'n traddodiad o ymladd dros hawliau plant, a rhoi llais go iawn i blant yn yr hyn rydym yn ei wneud yma yn y Cynulliad.