World looks to National Assembly on St David’s Day as exemplar for modern democracy
28 February 2013
The National Assembly for Wales will mark St David’s Day by recognising Wales’s growing reputation on the world stage.
Not only is Wales known across the world for its culture, scenery, artists, sportsmen and produce, but its reputation as an exemplar of parliamentary democracy is growing across the world.
Many legislative bodies, at a regional and nation-state level, are increasingly looking to the National Assembly to discover how it scrutinises legislation and policy, as well as how it communicates with the public and supports Assembly Members.
This growing reputation will be celebrated by an event at the Senedd on 28 February, which will mark both St David’s Day and Commonwealth Day (which takes place on 11 March).
The event will showcase artists who have succeeded on the world stage, as well as Welsh produce and individuals who represent and promote Wales abroad.
In her welcome speech, the Assembly’s Presiding Officer, Rosemary Butler AM, will outline the impact that Welsh democracy is having around the world.
“We are proud to celebrate our rich, diverse culture and heritage on St David’s Day,” the Presiding Officer said.
“It is high time that we celebrated Wales’s growing reputation across the world as an exemplar of a modern democracy.
“Only this week I welcomed a delegation from Sri Lanka which came to see how we scrutinise legislation and provide support to our Assembly Members. in order to best serve the people and hold the Welsh Government to account.
“We have regular visits from parliamentarians from as far afield as Trinibad and Tobago, Uganda and the Aland Islands in the Baltic – all wanting to learn from us.
“Carolyn Bennett, a Member of the Canadian Parliament, following a visit to the Assembly said ‘Our days here [National Assembly] have been inspiring’,
“So we celebrate our national saint’s day by acknowledging our growing reputation as a world leader in parliamentary democracy.”
Visiting Parliamentarians have been particularly interested in the Assembly’s:
Committee structure;
Legislative and policy scrutiny processes;
Petitions system;
E-democracy approach; and
System of support for Assembly Members.
The Assembly’s St David’s Day celebrations will include a whole host of exhibitions, performances and stalls in the Senedd on the 28 February, starting at 12.00.
There will be performances by a jazz band from the Welsh College of Music and Drama, Welsh singer/songwriter Gareth Bonello, while exhibitors will include Wales Centre for International Affairs, European Commission in Wales, Wales Arts International, and the British Council
On 1 March itself, the Presiding Officer will be representing the Assembly at the St David’s Day civic service at St John the Baptist Church, Cardiff, while the annual St David’s Day message from the Diocese of St David’s will be received at the Senedd by Deputy Presiding Officer, David Melding AM, at 17.00.