Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol Cymru y blaid i gymryd y Ddeddf Iaith Cymraeg Newydd ymlaen - Burnham / Welsh Liberal Democrats the party to take forward New Welsh Language Act - Burnham

4.18.00pm GMT Wed 29th Nov 2006

Wythnos yma cadarnhaodd Eleanor Burnham AC weledigaeth Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol Cymru dros ddyfodol yr iaith gan lobio'r Llywodraeth ochr yn ochr a Chymdeithas Yr Iaith ac AC eraill, er mwyn cael agwedd newydd i Ddeddf Iaith Cymraeg.

Cadarnhaodd Ms Burnham fod safbwynt unigryw Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol Cymru yn deillio o egwyddor hawliau sylfaenol. Gan ganolbwyntio ar hawliau sylfaenol a mynnu fod yr iaith Cymraeg yn cael statws staduddol fel iaith swyddogol ochr yn ochr a'r Saesneg yn yr 21 ganrif ar hugain

Dywedodd Ms Burnham: "Buasai hyn yn cadarnhau a rhoi gravita i bolosi prif -ffrydriad Llywodraeth y Cynulliad gan gefnogi cyrff, busnesau a unigolion yng Nghymru i ddefnyddio y Gymraeg fel y Saesneg

"Credaf hefyd y dylai unrhyw unigolyn gallu dewis i ddefnyddio'r Gymraeg fel hawl syfaenol ac hoffwn weld hyn yn cael eu gynnwys mewn mesur newydd.

"Yn benodol mae 3 hawl rydym yn cymryd yn ganiataol pan yn defnyddio'r Saesneg, ond sy'n ddadleuol pan yn defnyddio'r Gymraeg:

• Hawl yr unigolyn i gysylltu gyda chyrff gyhoeddus a mudiadau drwy gyfrwng yr iaith Gymraeg

• Hawl i dderbyn a chyflawni ffurflenni drwy cyfrwng yr iaith Gymraeg

• Hawl i gysylltu gwasanaethau ffôn yn cynnwys llinellau cymorth drwy gyfrwng yr iaith Gymraeg

"Dim ond pan fydd yr hawliau hwn yng nhglwm a'r ddeddf Llywodraeth Cymru bydd Cymru ar y ffordd i gyfartaledd, mae'n rhaid i ni gymryd y cam cadarn cyntaf i gael cydbwysedd rhwng Cymraeg a Saesneg."

Eleanor Burnham AM yesterday outlined the Welsh Liberal Democrat vision of a way forward for Wales, lobbying the government alongside Cymdeithas Yr Iaith and other party AMs for a fresh approach to a new Welsh Language Act.

Ms Burnham's opening address at the lobby highlighted the unique Welsh Liberal Democrat stance for the introduction of a new Language Act for Wales, centering upon the basic rights of the individual, and insisting upon the need for both Welsh and English to be recognised as the official languages of Wales in the 21st century.

Ms Burnham, Welsh Liberal Democrat Welsh Language Spokesperson, said: "The primary achievement of a new Welsh Language Act would be to finally have Welsh recognized alongside English as an official language in Wales.

"This would vindicate the current government's mainstreaming policies and give gravitas to the efforts of the Welsh Assembly in encouraging businesses, organizations and individuals in Wales to use Welsh as they do English.

"I also believe in the use of Welsh by anyone who chooses to as an absolute right and would want this included in any new language measures. In particular there are three rights that we take for granted when using English, yet still remain dubious when it comes to Welsh:

• The right of the individual to correspond with public bodies and organizations in Welsh

• The right to receive and complete official forms in Welsh

• The right to contact phone services, including helplines, in Welsh

"Only when these rights are enshrined by government legislation will Wales be on the road to equality, we have to make the first decisive step in readdressing the balance between Welsh and English."

Ends/Diwedd