People of the Senedd

Rhys ab Owen MS

Rhys ab Owen MS

Senedd Regional Member

Independent Member

Not affiliated to a Political Group

South Wales Central

My Senedd Activities

What progress has been made towards reducing tobacco smoking prevalence below 5 per cent in Wales by 2030, as set out by the Welsh Government's smoke-free Wales strategy?

Tabled on 04/09/2024

Will the Welsh Government meet with the UK Government to discuss plans for further smoking restrictions, following the implementation of Part 3 of the Public Health (Wales) Act 2017?

Tabled on 04/09/2024

What is the Welsh Government doing to ensure freeholder-developer relations do not further delay cladding works at Victoria Wharf?

Tabled on 04/09/2024

What penalties will the Welsh Government give to developers who consistently miss their target dates to begin cladding removal works?

Tabled on 04/09/2024

Will the Cabinet Secretary roll out a digital firearms marker in Welsh GP records to ensure clinicians are able to quickly alert the relevant police force in the event a firearms holder h...

Tabled on 04/09/2024

What is the Welsh Government doing to increase public awareness of the risks of Mpox for people travelling to places where it is endemic, to ensure the virus is not brought into Wales?

Tabled on 28/08/2024

More information and calendar events

Detailed information: Rhys ab Owen MS

Biography

Key interests and achievements

Rhys's main interests are constitutional affairs, taking action on the climate emergency, eradicating child poverty and ensuring a better life for families and those affected by dementia. He also takes a keen interest in the local history of Cardiff, the Welsh language along with legal and justice matters.

Personal history

Rhys was born and raised in Cardiff where he attended Ysgol Glantaf. He studied law at Oxford University and completed his Bar course at Cardiff University. He was awarded the Pantyfedwen Scholarship.

Rhys lives in Cardiff with his wife and their daughter.

Professional background

Prior to his election,  Rhys worked as a barrister for Iscoed Chambers, Swansea. He has practiced as a barrister since 2010.

He was appointed a First Tier Tribunal Judge in the Social Entitlement Chamber (2019 -2021)

He sat on the Advisory board of the Wales Governance Centre Justice and Jurisdiction project, was a Panel Member Welsh Government Public Law Scheme and a Law Lecturer at Swansea University from 2014-2019.

In 2018-19, Rhys undertook work with the Welsh Government as Head of Policy for the Commission on Justice in Wales chaired by Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, former Chief Justice of England and Wales.

Political history

In 2017, Rhys stood in the Cardiff Council election in the Canton ward, where he increased the Plaid Cymru vote from 910 to 2,105.

Since being elected, to the Senedd he has led and supported a number of prominent campaigns, such as calling for justice for those living in high rise flats in Cardiff Bay, a decent pension for 1950s born women and campaigned for a National Care System for Wales to complement the Welsh National Health Service.

Cross Party Membership

Rhys was elected chair of the cross party group on dementia on Wednesday 10 November 2021, with Jayne Bryant MS elected as deputy.

Membership

Terms of office

  1. 08/05/2021 -

View Current Register of Interests

Cross Party Membership

Elections

Media Assets

Calendar events: Rhys ab Owen MS