http://www.kirstywilliams.org.uk/speecharchive.php Recent Speeches from Kirsty Williams AM en-GB Kirsty Williams AM http://www.kirstywilliams.org.uk/ Prater Raines Ltd http://www.praterraines.co.uk/ (c) 2008 Kirsty Williams AM 2008-10-07T13:50+01:00 United Kingdom http://www.kirstywilliams.org.uk/speeches/000006/breaking_through_the_consensus.html The title of my lecture is Breaking through the Consensus: the case for Liberalism in Welsh politics, 2007-11-12T19:30+00:00 http://www.kirstywilliams.org.uk/speeches/000001/a_crisis_in_speech_therapy__argyfwng_mewn_therapi_lleferydd.html Colleagues, as people who make our living from talking, we, as politicians, should not underestimate the importance of speech and the power of communication. Speech and language are fundamental to a child's development and at the heart of enabling individuals to achieve their potential. For those who are experiencing difficulty with speech and language, access to a speech and language therapist is crucial and potentially life-changing. 2006-01-18T00:00+00:00 http://www.kirstywilliams.org.uk/speeches/000002/developing_the_heart_of_wales_line__datblygu_rheilffordd_calon_cymru.html Since I took up the economic development and transport portfolio, I have often likened the Minister's economic focus to that of a Polo mint, as it has a great big hole in the middle. Sometimes I feel that his transport policy follows the same pattern. The heart of Wales line is one of this country's treasures and the Minister, given his family links with the area and the line in particular, should be aware of its attributes and its potential. For the uninitiated among you, the heart of Wales line, originally known as the central Wales line, runs for 121 miles from Swansea to Shrewsbury, via the length of Brecon and Radnorshire, passing through 32 stations, mostly unmanned request stops, including that of Bynea, the village in which I grew up and from where, as a teenager, I used to catch the train to go to Liberal Democrat meetings in Llandrindod Wells. Some would say that the line has a lot to answer for. 2005-11-16T00:00+00:00 http://www.kirstywilliams.org.uk/speeches/000005/community_hospitals__ysbytai_cymunedol.html Today, I want to divert Members' attention away from prescription charges and draw it instead to community hospitals, an aspect of the national health service that is often overlooked; it is highly regarded by all our constituents, and is a vital component for a modern, efficient NHS. I would even go as far as to suggest that a new strategic vision, and an associated commitment of resources to community hospitals could help us to address some of the problems that have dogged our district general hospitals. 2003-02-05T00:00+00:00 http://www.kirstywilliams.org.uk/speeches/000004/access_to_health_services_in_rural_wales__cael_gafael_ar_wasanaethau_iechyd_yn_y_gymru_wledig.html Having being successful in the draw for the first ever short debate in the National Assembly for Wales, I did not anticipate that I would have to wait three years for the draw to favour me again. However, it was easy to select a topic for this morning's debate: I want to highlight the challenges of delivering and accessing health services in a rural setting. 2002-05-09T00:00+01:00