Diolch, Llywydd, a diolch am dderbyn y cais. Rydw i’n ddiolchgar i’r Prif Weinidog am y datganiad mae wedi dod ag ef gerbron y Cynulliad heddiw, ond, wrth gwrs, mae mwy i senedd na gwrando ar beth yw safbwynt y Llywodraeth a gofyn cwestiynau i’r Llywodraeth. Mae senedd i fod yn fforwm democrataidd, genedlaethol lle rydym ni’n trafod materion o brys, a materion sy’n ymwneud â’n hetholwyr ni, ac nid oes dim byd sy’n ymwneud â’n hetholwyr ni yn fwy na’r penderfyniad heddiw i yrru’r llythyr hwn ar ran y Deyrnas Gyfunol i’r Undeb Ewropeaidd yn rhoi’r nodyn i ymadael â’r Undeb Ewropeaidd yn ffurfiol. Fel rŷm ni newydd ei glywed gan y Prif Weinidog, nid yw Llywodraeth Cymru wedi bod yn rhan o ddrafftio’r llythyr, na rhoi cynnwys i’r llythyr, na ddylanwadu ar y llythyr, ac felly mae hi hyd yn oed yn fwy pwysig, rydw i’n meddwl, ein bod ni fel senedd yn dod yn un llais ac yn trafod nawr cynnwys y llythyr yma, penderfyniadau tebyg gan Lywodraeth San Steffan, a’r ffordd yr ŷm ni’n gallu dylanwadu ar hynny. Nid oes yna ddim penderfyniad, efallai, gwleidyddol mwy sy’n effeithio ar Gymru ers yr ail rhyfel byd, ac, yn sicr, mae goblygiadau sylweddol i economi, diwylliant, a phobl Cymru.

If we were to hold an urgent debate now, it would allow us to explore and debate in more detail some of the questions that have already been put to the First Minister, but do that in a democratic, parliamentary way, so that all Members can have their say. I would be particularly concerned to explore why the letter that’s been sent by the Prime Minister on behalf of the UK state does not refer to the environment, or agriculture, or climate change, or, indeed, to research amongst our higher education institutions—all vital parts of the Welsh economy and the Welsh future. I’d be interested to know how we can get a better deal for EU citizens living now in Wales, and protect their rights and ensure that they can remain as part of our community. They are the voters who voted for many of us to be here, and their voices deserve to be here today as well.

It would allow us to explore better the relationship between Wales, going forward, and the single market. Clearly, Plaid Cymru wants to remain a member of that single market and the customs union, but we need to understand, if that does not happen, what would the transitional arrangements be and how can we ensure that vital parts of our economy, such as farming and manufacturing, are protected in that way. We’d want to put on record that we want every penny of European money kept in Wales, as was promised by the ‘leave’ campaigners a year ago, and we want to put that on the record as a parliament. We’d want to put on the record as well that we do not accept any attempt to grab powers back from Wales. It’s very curious that, the way the letter was framed today, and the statement made by Theresa May in the House of Commons today, yes, she can say that more powers may come to this institution, but she did not say that all powers in devolved fields now held at European level would come to this institution. There will be a land grab in Downing Street before we get those extra powers.

Finally, we can put on record our belief that there must be a parliamentary approval of the final deal and that the National Assembly for Wales’s voice must form part of that approval as well.