Presiding Officer's Outreach Tour 2009

Drive to break down barriers continues after a decade of devolution

In 2009, the National Assembly  For Wales’ Presiding Officer, Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas is visiting each electoral region in Wales as part of an ongoing initiative to encourage engagement in the democratic process and to widen an understanding of the National Assembly’s role.

The visit, to Swansea’s African community Centre, in Walter Road, on January 29, was the first stop on a five-centre programme designed to engage in debate with those groups who traditionally may not have had access to Wales’ democratic process.

View a video bulletin of the Swansea visit

He will talk also talk to youngsters in Llanelli, Disabled Groups in South East Wales, faith groups in South Wales Central, and lesbian, gay and bisexual groups in North Wales.

View a video bulletin of the Llanelli visit

The Assembly’s role is to create laws for Wales, hold the Welsh Government to account and represent the citizens of Wales, therefore more important than ever for us to engage with all groups in Wales,” said the Presiding Officer.

View a video bulletin of the Treorchy visit

"That’s why, as part of my on-going work to get greater engagement with our work here in Cardiff Bay, I’m meeting with groups in five different parts of Wales to see how we can make the democratic process more accessible. The National Assembly is now the focal point of what has become an increasingly cohesive sense of a Welsh identity.

View a video bulletin of the Llandudno Visit

But our work is not finished. We need everyone in Wales to feel ownership of the institution and its work The project will feed into on-going work to increase participation and follows on from the National Assembly’s own survey last year which revealed that although 70% now support devolution, many did not know the difference between the National Assembly and the Welsh Assembly Government with 52% admitting they knew very little about the work of the Assembly and its members."

The aim of the Presiding Officer journey around Wales is to tackle these issues directly. He will also visit disabled, faith-based, sexual orientation and young people’s groups as part of the programme, and in every electoral region in Wales.