People of the Senedd

Rhys ab Owen MS

Rhys ab Owen MS

Senedd Regional Member

Independent Plaid Cymru Member

Not affiliated to a Political Group

South Wales Central

My Senedd Activities

Thank you, Counsel General. I'm pleased to hear your aspiration, and I was pleased to read recently, in the annual report for 2023 on the future of Welsh law, that 96 per cent of legislat...

Plenary | 25/06/2024

Diolch yn fawr, Cadeirydd. We're all aware that the sustainable farming scheme has had much publicity over the last few months, and that last month the new Cabinet Secretary announced tha...

Petitions Committee | 24/06/2024

Diolch, Gadeirydd. Last month, the Minister announced that, following a second public consultation, any plans to introduce structural reform to the council tax system won't be until 2028....

Petitions Committee | 24/06/2024

I haven't got a contrary opinion, but I appreciate the time-sensitive nature of this. I'd like to see if we can have a debate on this at some point, because this needs to be sustainable f...

Petitions Committee | 24/06/2024

In 2006, thanks to hard work by campaigners who are here today, and Baroness Altmann, the parliamentary ombudsman published a report on the misinformation of the then Labour Government, w...

Plenary | 19/06/2024

For many, being a steelworker is more than just a job, it's part of their identity. Many followed their fathers and grandfathers to work as steelworkers. It's a dangerous job, injuries we...

Plenary | 19/06/2024

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