Debate at Wales’ top chamber was chaired from a living room in Aberareon this week.

Elin Jones, Ceredigion’s Assembly Member and Llywydd of the National Assembly for Wales, has chaired the first ever virtual Assembly meetings from her sofa in Aberaeron.

The plenary meetings, usually chaired in the Senedd in Cardiff Bay, have moved online due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The National Assembly for Wales is among the first national parliaments in the world to meet virtually.

Miss Jones said: “The past unprecedented weeks have demanded more from us all.

“Although I have personally been housebound for some of this past month, and have been confined to Aberaeron for the entire period, my work of representing the people of Ceredigion and presiding over our national parliament has been able to continue.

“We’ve all had to find more patience, more kindness, and more creativity in order to ensure that we can find some normality in days that feel anything but normal.

“However, this is the new normal, and as presiding officer of the Welsh Parliament, the primary responsibility has been to keep the wheels of our democracy turning.

“With 60 members traveling to Cardiff Bay from across Wales every week to attend plenary and assembly committees, there was an obvious need to reassess our flexibility and innovation in planning the way forward.

"We had to ensure the safety of all in attendance, and ultimately the safety of people in the communities and constituencies we represent.

“There were two options available to the Senedd – either not to meet at all or to meet virtually. To me, the obvious choice was to hold the first ever virtual assembly meeting should take place via Zoom, with a slimmed down representation of AMs.

“And so, I’m proud to have chaired the first fully bilingual meeting was held virtually on 1 April, with statements from the First Minister and the minister for health and social care, all from my sofa in Aberaeron.

"There were a few faulty web connections, one or two unexpected background family members and the occasional barking dog – but all went well.

“The success of the first meeting meant that we were to hold a second plenary session a week later with 28 members, and broadcast it live on senedd.tv, BBC2 and BBC Parliament. And the hope is to go further, with more Assembly Members in more plenary and committee meetings.

“This innovation has attracted attention from around the world with the parliaments of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland and Westminster contacting the Assembly seeking advice and guidance before attempting to hold their own virtual meetings.

"This is proof that a young parliament can make its mark on the international stage and lead the way by being flexible and enterprising.

“We know now that movement restrictions are likely to last for the foreseeable future and so holding a virtual parliament will be our new normal.

“On a personal note, I have to add that politicians are used to the fine line between the personal and the professional, but I never imagined I would chair a plenary of the National Assembly from my sofa in Aberaeron! And it’s true to say, I was in my slippers!”