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A Welsh Government Minister is under fire from language campaigners.

Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas has been lambasted by Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg for his intervention over advertising the post of National Librarian.

According to internal e-mails sent by an official in October and released to the pressure group in response to a Freedom of Information request, the Culture Minister was "adamant" that the successful applicant's ability to speak Welsh was not essential and should not be advertised as such.

The Aberystwyth-based National Library works internally through the medium of the Welsh language and 90% of staff speak Welsh.

The official added he feared "it could prompt a damaging public row", given the Library was determined to make Welsh a requirement.

(Image: UGC TNW)

After asking the Minister again, another official said Lord Elis-Thomas AM had said "this (post) should not be advertised as Welsh essential. He wants to attract the broadest field possible."

But National Library President, Rhodri Glyn Thomas, ignored the pressure and appointed Pedr ap Llwyd, a Welsh speaker, to the post last December.

But the the civil servant responded by warning library chiefs they shouldn’t do that as the Minister would be "very unhappy" and "it could make things more difficult in terms of other National Library issues on which they are hoping to secure our support".

Lord Elis Thomas, who represents Dwyfor Meirionnydd quit Plaid Cymru in 2016 and sits as an independent AM.

Bethan Williams from Cymdeithas yr Iaith said: “The Minister’s behaviour is a disgrace, and it raises many serious questions that need answering. The National Library is one of those very few organisations which works internally through the medium of Welsh. If the Welsh language is to thrive, we need more of these types of bodies, not fewer.

"Appointing someone who doesn’t speak Welsh to the role would significantly undermine the status of Welsh and the language of work in the Library. That’s why it’s very concerning that the Government Minister has gone out of his way to intentionally threaten the Welsh language in this way. It also appears that the Minister has acted inappropriately in dealing with an independent body.

“The suggestion that making the language a condition in a job description would restrict the standard of candidates is insulting and seriously mistaken. In a body that uses Welsh as the main language of work, it’s obvious that someone who’s not Welsh speaking could not manage and lead the organisation.

“More generally, the Welsh Government has a very poor record when it comes to increasing the internal use of the Welsh language in the civil service and other public bodies. Creating and protecting Welsh language jobs and ensuring that more bodies work through the language is essential in order to reach the million Welsh speakers.

(Image: Western Mail)

"We congratulate the National Library, and its President in particular, on standing up against the Minister’s inappropriate pressure on them to undermine the use of Welsh. It’s likely that there wouldn’t be many other bodies that would have firm enough leadership to reject the Government’s efforts.”

A Welsh Government spokesman said the appointment of Mr ap Llwyd was made by the National Library within a framework agreed between the Government and the Library.

He confirmed there had been "some discussion" about the post among officials and the intention was to ensure the widest possible range of applicants.

He added the Welsh Government welcomed the appointment of Pedr ap Llwyd.