14th March 2008
Colofn Golwg
Yn hwyrach eleni fe welwn y trydydd ymgais yn ein hanes i ddeddfu’n gynhwysfawr ynglyn a’r iaith Gymraeg. (Dwi ddim yn cyfrif Deddf Uno 1536 ymhlith y rhain, gafodd ei basio gan Senedd Lloegr heb fod yr un Aelod o Gymru yn bresennol). Tri chynnig gafwyd hefyd yn Quebec cyn creu’r Siarter Iaith Ffrangeg ym 1977 – dau gais braidd yn siomedig gan bleidiau Ffederal a wedyn Mesur 101 gan Lywodraeth gyntaf y Parti Quebecois sydd yn bodoli hyd heddiw, er gwaethaf pob ymgais i’w ddisodli. Felly mae hi wedi bod yng Nghymru, gydag ymdrech bitw y Blaid Lafur ym 1967 ac wedyn ‘Mesur Cwango Iaith’ y Toriaid, fel y’i disgrifiwyd ar y pryd gan Rhodri Morgan. Ataliodd Aelodau Seneddol Llafur eu pleidlais gan addo rhywbeth gwell.
Pymtheng mlynedd yn ddiweddarach ac rydym ni’n dal i ddisgwyl. Diolch byth bod gennym ni nawr hefyd ein Rene Levesque ni ein hunain yn yr ail Rhodri o gwmpas y ford ar bumed llawr Tŷ Hywel. Ac mewn unrhyw frwydr iaith, o gwmpas y ford honno fel mewn unman arall, un peth sydd angen arno fe nawr: y dewrder a’r dycnwch sy’n deillio o’r ymwybyddiaeth bod ei bobl ei hunan gant y cant tu ôl iddo fe. Ar gwestiwn sylfaenol hawliau ieithyddol, rhaid i ni gyd – beth bynnag yw’n hanghytundebau mewnol - sefyll yn gadarn ac yn unfryd.
Na, Rhodri rhif un, fydd dim disgwyl i’r siop chips yng Nghas-gwent gynnig englynion gyda’i sglods. Ond byddai hepgor unrhyw gyfrifoldeb am yr iaith ar ddarparwyr gwasanaethau cyhoeddus corfforaethol mawrion, fel y cyfleustodau, yn hollol annerbyniol. Ni fyddai’r Glymblaid yn medru parhau yn wyneb y fath wrthodiad. Nid anghytundeb ar sail polisi fyddai hwn, ond ar sail egwyddor.
Dyn ni ddim yn sôn am gwmnïau bach. Rydym yn sôn am gorfforaethau mawrion sydd eisoes yn cael eu rheoleiddio yn statudol gan gyrff fel OFCOM, OFGEM a’r FSA. “Gwasnaethau o ddiddorddeb cyffredinol” y gelwir rhain gan y Comisiwn Ewropeaidd – mae hyd yn oed diffiniad swyddogol ohonyn nhw ar gael felly. Hawliau newydd i ddefnyddwyr yw’r flaenoriaeth gyntaf. Ond rhaid i’r cais am bwerau deddfu fod yn ddigon i ganiatáu cynnydd hefyd o ran rôl y Gymraeg yn y gweithle, gan gynnwys yr hawl i siarad Cymraeg heb ofn discrimineiddiad, yr hawl i dderbyn addysg, iechyd a gwasanaethau cymdeithasol yn yr iaith, a chyfrifoldebau ieithyddol undebau llafur. Os nad oes modd cyrraedd cytundeb ar bob un peth, dylid cynnig pleidlais rydd. I’r ddau Rodri a’r ddwy Blaid.
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Later this year, we will witness the third attempt in our history to extensively legislate in relation to the Welsh language. (I am not counting the 1536 Act of Union amongst these, which was passed by the English Parliament without even one member for Wales present). Three attempts were also made in Quebec before the establishment of the French Language Charter in 1977 – two quite disappointing attempts by Federal parties and then the 101 Measure by the first government formed by the Parti Quebecois which still exists today, despite attempts to undermine it. That’s also how its been in Wales, with the pitiful attempt by the Labour party in 1967 and then the ‘Language Quango Measure’ by the Tories, as it was described by Rhodri Morgan at the time. Labour MPs abstained from voting, promising something better.
Fifteen years late, and we’re still waiting. Thankfully, we have our own Rene Levesque in the second Rhodri at the Assembly. In any battle associated with the language, only one thing is needed on him now: the courage and the determination which comes from knowing that his own people are one hundred per cent behind him. On fundamental issues to do with linguistic rights, we must all – whatever disputes are going on internally – stand firmly and united.
Rhodri number one need not worry that the chippy in Chepstow will have to serve englynion with their chips. But allowing large corporate companies who provide public services to have no responsibility for the language cannot continue. The coalition Government could not continue if this was not regulated. This would not be a dispute because of policy. It would be a dispute based on principle.
We’re not talking about small companies. We’re talking about large corporations which are already regulated by statutory bodies such as OFCOM, OFGEM and the FSA. The European Commission describes them as “Services of general interest”, so we even have an official definition of them. New rights for users has to be a main priority. But the application for more legislative powers has to ensure that it also allows for an increase in terms of the role of the Welsh language in the workplace, including the right to speak Welsh without fearing discrimination, and the right to receive your education, health and social services in the language, as well as linguistic responsibility of trade unions. If consensus cannot be reached on everything, then a free vote should be offered. To the two Rhodri’s and the two Parties.
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