Welsh Ombudsman accused of Cymraeg power grab.

The BBC reports that 

A Plaid Cymru AM has said there is a "question mark" over the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales' future after he engaged in a Facebook spat.

Adam Price accused Nick Bennett of "tacitly supporting" the proposed abolition of the Welsh Language Commissioner's post.
Mr Bennett has proposed he take over investigation of complaints about Welsh language services.
He defended responding to objectors' comments to "correct the record".
In a response to a consultation on the abolishing the Welsh Language Commissioner, Mr Bennett said he could resolve complaints sooner than the current system, which he said was "over-bureaucratic and complicated" and "can be wasteful".

"I believe that complaint handling could and should follow arrangements in other devolved fields, ensuring that complaints are not investigated by government, or by government appointees," he said.

Should the Welsh Language  be treated in the same way as other devolved fields.I would argue that this is a case of "Positive Discrimination " being implemented. Recognising the current power of the English language and that  you can't treat Cymraeg as equal to it in its Omnipresence in all parts of Wales including Y Fro Cymraeg  where the Welsh language is in a majority but  clearly under threat.

The Ombudsman said his role would only be in relation to investigation - with sanction a matter for the commissioner, or the Welsh Language Commission proposed in the Welsh Government's consultation.
The Welsh language campaign group Cymdeiathas yr Iaith Gymraeg has complained to the assembly equalities committee chairman John Griffiths about Mr Bennett's proposals and the subsequent "quarrel" on Facebook.

Cymdeithas said the Ombudsman should be impartial.

Mr Price posted on Facebook his complaint about Mr Bennett's proposal in light of his previous finding against Cynwyd Community Council for not providing all its documents in English.

A comment from Colin Nosworthy of Cymdeithas claimed the community council decision showed the Ombudsman did not understand Welsh language law.
Mr Bennett responded that the claim was "nonsense", pointing out that there had not been any legal challenge to his decision.

Mr Price said many people

 "would not have trust or confidence in the Public Services Ombudsman taking over this role" of handling complaints about Welsh language services.
"We cannot have a situation where an ombudsman, who is meant to be outside of the political, democratic process, taking a public position in an area where there is huge disagreement and actually then engaging in debate and argument with elected members and members of the public who disagree with them,"

The Plaid Cymru AM said Mr Bennett had "clearly breached" an agreement between himself and the Welsh Language commissioner not to review or comment on each other's work.

 Mr Price said.

"I have to say with great regret that I think a line has been crossed here," Mr Price said.

Asked if he thought the Ombudsman should lose his job, Mr Price said:

"There's a serious question mark," adding he had asked Mr Griffiths, as chair of the assembly equalities committee, to hold an "urgent inquiry". 

Should we  also asking if the Welsh Labour Government have approached the  
Ombudsman before its decision to abolish the role of Welsh Language Commissionaire?

I don't like conspiracy theory but it does look that Nick Bennett wouldn't have made his "power gab" unless he was confident that he would be getting support from some corners.

However he seems to have played his hand to early and one wonders if the Welsh Labour Government would now hand him the powers he desires,