Cymdeithas yr Iaith wish to thank the 16 Assembly Memebers who voted for the right of citizens to the Welsh language to be inserted in the Welsh language Measure. 16 AMs voted in favour, 32 voted against, with no abstentions.Rights were promised as part of the One Wales agreement. Catrin Dafydd, spokesperson for Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg rights group:"Congratulations to those who voted for the right of citizens to use the language when it is reasonable to do so and to Jenny Randerson from the Liberal Democrats and Paul Davies from the Conservative Party for moving the amendment. The concensus formed between the political parties on this issue is a foundation to build on and for rights to be won in the future.""For the first time in the history of our country, the Welsh language is an official language in Wales. While this is to be welcomed, a core principle is missing from the measure. The Government has not delivered rights as it promised and this is not the measure we hoped would get to grips with the linguistic landscape in Wales. The next sensible step is to get to grips with the practical relationship between the people of Wales and the Welsh language. Too much time has been wasted discussing status when there was so much consensus for clear unambiguous status to start with, instead of ambitious and progressive language legislation.""This law empowers officials, not people, and the flaws in the Measure will demonstrate that in future. It is also an extraordinarily complex measure, and we have serious concerns about the difficulty that will be faced in implementing it for the benefit of the language and the people of Wales. There is no way of denying the intrinsic relationship between status and rights. Rights are the only basis that would ensure that the Standards set in the measure would work effectively. As things stand, there is no principle driving this measure. Ensuring rights for people to use the language is the key principle that's missing. So, we as campaigners will call for new legislation in the next assembly to empower citizens and deliver rights for everyone to be able to hear, see, learn and use the language in their communities, across the whole of Wales."