Tag Archives: politics

The Finance Secretary will meet scientists from Bangor University and representatives from the industry to hear about the progress of two cross-border projects aimed at growing both nations’ shellfish industries and assessing the effects of climate change in the Irish Sea.

The projects are part of the EU’s Ireland-Wales co-operation programme, which is strengthening economic links and collaboration between both nations. The programme is one of a range of EU territorial cooperation initiatives in which Wales currently participates.

Mark Drakeford said: 

“The Irish Sea is a vitally important shared resource between both our nations, so it’s essential we work together to address the common challenges and opportunities arising from climate and environmental changes.

“These projects are harnessing the expertise of scientists on both sides of the Irish Sea to help preserve marine life and provide ground-breaking insights to safeguard and develop the fisheries industry in Wales and Ireland. They are excellent examples of working together to provide solutions to cross-border challenges.“

As part of the Bluefish and Irish Sea Portal projects, Bangor University has teamed up with fellow Irish and Welsh universities as well as Ireland’s Marine Institute and its seafood development agency, Bord Iascaigh Mhara.

The projects are investigating the migratory movement of commercial fish, risks from new non-native species and how climate change is affecting the health of fish stocks.

Fisheries businesses are also benefiting from guidance in adapting to environmental changes in the Irish Sea and support to capitalise on new commercial opportunities to develop the industry.

Bangor University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor John G. Hughes, said: 

“Both the Bluefish and the Irish Sea Portal projects are excellent examples of international research which benefit the coastal communities of Wales and Ireland.

“By working together with universities, industry bodies and commercial partners on both sides of the Irish Sea, the world-leading expertise of Bangor University’s School of Ocean Sciences is having real and positive impact on the lives of those working in the marine sector.”

Mark Drakeford added: 

“Welsh businesses and universities are benefiting very significantly from a range of initiatives supporting pan-European collaboration through the European Territorial Cooperation programmes. It’s vital we retain access to these opportunities as part of any new relationship with Europe.”

The fund will go towards supporting the delivery of the End of Life Care Delivery Plan 2017-2020, published in March this year. The three year plan outlines how the Welsh Government intends to improve services for patients and their families across Wales. It covers all aspects of palliative and end of life care, delivered by both primary and secondary care and the voluntary sector. 

Care at the end of life has been improving in Wales since the publication of the first Delivery Plan in 2013 in hospitals and for those who wish to spend their final days at home.

To ensure patients’ experiences are consistently improving, the allocated funding will be used for activities such as providing additional training for health professionals to initiate difficult conversations about End of Life Care with patients and their families. 

This funding will also be used to support the development of an all Wales streamlined, advanced care planning electronic record system, to take forward research priorities and to support GP clusters in Wales.

It will also be used to pursue a compassionate community approach to End of Life Care through projects such as the ‘Byw Nawr – Live Now’ initiative, which aims to get people in Wales talking more openly about dying, death and bereavement through awareness raising activities and online resources. 

Health Secretary, Vaughan Gething said:

“Dying is one of life’s few certainties, and as a result of advances in modern medicine, there are many people living longer with terminal illnesses. It is therefore vital that the best possible end of life and palliative care is made available across Wales. 

“I’m pleased to allocate the additional £1m funding to support the End of Life Care Delivery Plan, which reaffirms our commitment to ensuring people have a healthy, realistic approach to dying, and are able to plan appropriately for the event. 

“We want people to be able to end their days in the location of their choice – be that home, hospital or hospice and we want them to have access to high quality care wherever they live and die, whatever their underlying disease or disability.”

The Counsel have been appointed following an open recruitment competition earlier this year

The competition attracted more than 70 expressions of interest.  The appointments include six additional Queen’s Counsel, 3 additional Junior Counsel for appointment to the A Panel (for counsel with 10 or more years’ practise) and 9 additional Junior Counsel for appointment to the B Panel (for counsel with fewer than 10 years’ practise).

Appointment to the Panel is open to both barristers with a tenancy and solicitors with the required rights of audience.  Candidates had to satisfy a number of criteria, including experience of advocacy in the higher courts, experience in constitutional and administrative law, knowledge of the devolution settlement in Wales and of divergences between the law in England and in Wales, experience of working for or against the government or other public bodies and an appreciation of the particular characteristics of government litigation.

Appointments will be for a period of four years initially, but with the possibility of extension at the Counsel General’s discretion.  

Announcing the appointments, Mick Antoniw said:

“I have been encouraged by the quality of the applications received and am delighted to announce these appointments.  I know that the very experienced and talented Counsel who have been successful in being appointed to the Panel will give the Welsh Government access to an independent pool of considerable legal expertise and experience across the breadth of Welsh Government activity.  Having this proven capability to carry out advocacy and advisory work is important in ensuring that the Welsh Government has the best legal representation and opinion available to them at all times.”

Details of Counsel Appointed

Panel of Queen’s Counsel

Andrew Henshaw QC (Brick Court Chambers)
Paul Hopkins QC (Nine Park Place Chambers)
Gregory Jones QC (Francis Taylor Building)
Jonathan Moffett QC (11 King’s Bench Walk)
George Peretz QC (Monckton Chambers)
Ian Rogers QC (Monckton Chambers)

Junior Counsel Panel A

Shakil Najib (No.5 Chambers)
Matthew Rees (Angel Chambers)
Matthew Slater (Ten Old Square Chambers)

Junior Counsel Panel B

Rhys Davies (Nine Park Place Chambers)
Joseph Edwards (Nine Park Place Chambers)
Christian Howells (Thirty Park Place Chambers)
Owain James (Civitas Chambers)
Laura John (Monckton Chambers)
Thomas Leary (20 Essex Street Chambers)
Conor McCarthy (Monckton Chambers)

The news follows a decision by the Welsh Government earlier this year to advertise Aston Martin contracts on its Sell2Wales procurement site.

It was the first time that private sector contracts had ever been advertised on the Sell2Wales channel and was part of  a move to ensure that Welsh companies are well placed to benefit from Aston Martin’s move to Wales.

Companies from across the UK tendered for the work at St Athan but today Aston Martin announced that  Ammanford based TRJ Ltd were successful in winning the lucrative contract for Phase 2 of the construction of its new  manufacturing facility.

The company were previously successful in gaining a contract for Phase 1 of the construction in December 2016.

Speaking about TRJ Ltd’s success, the First Minister said:

“Our decision to open our Sell to Wales procurement channel to Aston Martin was designed to ensure that businesses right across Wales feel the benefit of the company’s decision to locate here. I am so pleased that Ammanford based firm TRJ have been successful in winning the  contract for the  next phase of construction at  Aston Martin’s  St Athan facility. This is exactly the sort of outcome we had hoped for  and I look forward to seeing more Welsh businesses benefitting from Aston Martin  in the coming months.”

Aston Martin President and CEO Andy Palmer commented:

“This is yet another step on our journey in Wales, with the facility now starting to take shape. TRJ have proven themselves during ‘Phase 1’ and we look forward to working with them over the course of this next phase of the project.”

In February 2016, Aston Martin announced that it had chosen St Athan from 20 potential global locations as its second manufacturing facility. A recruitment drive last year began the search for up to 750  new employees who will work at the facility.

Over 40 employees who will work at St Athan have already been hired and are working and training at the company’s manufacturing facility in Gaydon, Warwickshire

You can find out more about TRJ’s success in securing the Aston Martin contract, and the opportunities it will provide  for workers and apprentices in this short film https://youtu.be/W3Q459RJw10

The Secret Owl Garden has been open in Picton Castle since May and has had support through funding from Visit Wales’ Tourism Investment Support Scheme. 

“We created The Secret Owl Garden because people are always telling us just how much they love owls, so we wanted to give them the opportunity to learn more about them.”

“I’d like to congratulate Emma and Alex for seeing that they could offer something different in Pembrokeshire, I’m delighted that we’ve been able to support the growth of the business and wish them well with their first summer season and for the future.”