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Plaid power 'making a difference' Plaid 'must shape Wales' future'
(about 2 hours later)
Plaid leader Ieuan Wyn Jones will tell his party conference that Plaid ministers are "already making a difference in government". Plaid Cymru leader Ieuan Wyn Jones has told his party its ministers are "already making a difference in government".
However, Mr Jones will warn the party it cannot live in the "luxury of opposition". But he told party members in Llandudno they must accept the responsibilities and "rise to the challenge of nation building within government".
He will tell party members at Llandudno they must accept the responsibilities of government. Plaid entered government for the first time with an historic pact with Labour after May's assembly election.
Plaid Cymru entered an historic pact with Labour and gained three cabinet seats at the assembly election in May. Mr Jones told delegates their aim now was to "shape the Wales of the future".
Mr Jones, who is now deputy first minister to Labour's Rhodri Morgan, will tell delegates that the work of delivering many of Plaid's manifesto commitments is already underway. Wales wouldn't be the Wales we see today but for the existence of Plaid Cymru Ieuan Wyn Jones, Plaid Cymru leader
In his speech, Mr Jones will say the time has come to put Plaid's vision into action and prove to the people of Wales that it can deliver on its promises. But the Plaid leader, who is deputy first minister to Labour's Rhodri Morgan, also said Plaid had already helped to shape the Wales of today.
However, he will also warn that the party must be ready to make its case as soon as a general election is announced. "Wales wouldn't be the Wales we see today but for the existence of Plaid Cymru," he said.
We understand that culture and the arts are an integral part of the process of regenerating our communities Heritage Minister Rhodri Glyn Thomas "There would be no Welsh Office, no devolution, no assembly, no Welsh language legislation, no growth in the Welsh national institutions."
He criticised the "regressive unionist" Labour MPs who were against the coalition deal that put Plaid in coalition, but welcomed the policies introduced by the minority Labour government before the deal after pressure from the opposition.
"They called a halt to the hospital closure programme?and they also agreed that Welsh nurses should get their full pay award. And quite right too".
Ieuan Wyn Jones arrives at the Plaid conference in Llandudno
He argued that more could now be done with Plaid in government.
The priorities he outlined included ruling out the private finance initiative (PFI) in the health service, more affordable homes, the establishment of a climate change commission and improvements to roads and train services between north and south.
As a result of Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones' absence on Thursday due to the foot-and-mouth outbreak, Heritage Minister Rhodri Glyn Thomas delivered the first speech to a party conference by a serving Plaid minister.As a result of Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones' absence on Thursday due to the foot-and-mouth outbreak, Heritage Minister Rhodri Glyn Thomas delivered the first speech to a party conference by a serving Plaid minister.
He told delegates that the government would be soon bringing forward new legislation to cover the Welsh language and that he would not allow Labour MPs to block the new process of passing laws in Cardiff Bay following agreement at Westminster. Mr Thomas warned Labour MPs not to scupper plans for Welsh language legislation under the new Government of Wales Act arrangements which allows the assembly to create its own legislation in certain areas.
Ahead of his speech Mr Thomas said: "Plaid Cymru is in government for the good of Wales and we understand that culture and the arts are an integral part of the process of regenerating our communities. Welsh language newspaper
"I will also bring forward legislation which will help form the basis for creating a truly bilingual Wales." He said a bid for Welsh language legislation would set the principle that the assembly government could introduce measures on any aspects of the language.
Mr Thomas told the conference he would not "accept attempts by MPs to try and limit measures on the Welsh language".
He also update his party on the progress being made on Plaid's election commitment to create a national English language theatre and said that he would be doing all he could to establish a Welsh language daily newspaper within the next year.
Rhodri Glyn Thomas was the first Plaid minister to address conference
On Thursday the conference discussed the potentially contentious issues of women-only candidate selection, whether the party should nominate peers, and its opposition to nuclear power stations.On Thursday the conference discussed the potentially contentious issues of women-only candidate selection, whether the party should nominate peers, and its opposition to nuclear power stations.
On the question of nominations to the House of Lords, the party agreed to review its previous opposition.On the question of nominations to the House of Lords, the party agreed to review its previous opposition.
In a speech to delegates at Venue Cymru, parliamentary leader Elfyn Llwyd repeated his wish for that rule to be overturned.In a speech to delegates at Venue Cymru, parliamentary leader Elfyn Llwyd repeated his wish for that rule to be overturned.
Under the Government of Wales Act, which allows the Welsh assembly to introduce its own legislation, some proposals have to be approved by Parliament.Under the Government of Wales Act, which allows the Welsh assembly to introduce its own legislation, some proposals have to be approved by Parliament.
Mr Llwyd argued that this meant the party needed voices in the House of Lords. A number of branches from across Wales also asked for the policy to be changed of placing women at the top of regional lists in the Welsh assembly election, and that policy will now be reviewed.Mr Llwyd argued that this meant the party needed voices in the House of Lords. A number of branches from across Wales also asked for the policy to be changed of placing women at the top of regional lists in the Welsh assembly election, and that policy will now be reviewed.
There has been resentment among some grassroots members that strong male candidates such as former party leader Dafydd Wigley were not in a position to be elected to Cardiff Bay last May.There has been resentment among some grassroots members that strong male candidates such as former party leader Dafydd Wigley were not in a position to be elected to Cardiff Bay last May.
Plaid also backed a referendum on the European Union treaty, with a decision on which side to support in any campaign to be made by the party's national council.Plaid also backed a referendum on the European Union treaty, with a decision on which side to support in any campaign to be made by the party's national council.