The first plenary of the year followed a head-to-head debate the previous evening between First Minister Carwyn Jones and UKIP leader Nigel Farage on the UK's membership of the European Union.

Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood asked Mr Jones whether his performance in the debate would "help or hinder the campaign".

Mr Jones replied that was for others to decide.

At that point, the only certainty was that a referendum on whether the UK should remain within the EU or leave would be held before the end of 2017. 

It was to prove one of the defining issues of the year for the Welsh Assembly...

A report by the Public Accounts Committee said taxpayers had lost tens of millions of pounds over the sale of land by the Regeneration Investment Fund for Wales (RIFW).

The findings prompted the First Minister Carwyn Jones to publicly apologise to AMs saying it fell well below the standards that had been expected.

The committee investigated the March 2012 sale of land to Guernsey-based company South Wales Land Developments, following a highly-critical report by the public spending watchdog, the Wales Audit Office, last year.

A public health bill, which included a ban on e-cigarette use in some public places, was rejected by AMs after a row between Labour and Plaid Cymru.

Plaid Cymru voted against the bill in a last-minute move, meaning the assembly was tied 26-26 and the bill failed to pass.

It came after Public Services Minister Leighton Andrews said a previous deal with the party was a "cheap date".

To mark the end of the Fourth Assembly, the Mace was carried from the Siambr by the presiding officer and deputy presiding officer and handed to the chief executive and clerk to the Assembly. 

In May's election, Labour fell short of a majority as UKIP won its first seats in the Senedd.

Former Tory MPs Neil Hamilton and Mark Reckless were among seven UKIP AMs elected via the regional lists.

Labour remained the largest party with 29 of the 60 seats, and suffered the shock loss of Leighton Andrews to Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood in Rhondda.

Plaid Cymru won 12 seats, the Conservatives 11, and the Liberal Democrats went from five to just one.

The new term marked the largest turnover of assembly members since the institution began in 1999, with 22 new members. 

More than a third of the intake were completely new to the assembly, with only nine of the current group of 60 AMs having been in the chamber when it was formed.

On the extraordinary first day of the Fifth Assembly, members failed to elect a new first minister.

Labour's Carwyn Jones was expected to be re-appointed following the election.

But Plaid Cymru nominated its leader Leanne Wood, and won the backing of the Tories and UKIP, while Mr Jones won the support of sole Liberal Democrat Kirsty Williams and his own party.

With the vote tied at 29-29, the Senedd was adjourned to a later date.

Welsh Labour leader Carwyn Jones was re-appointed first minister, following a deal with Plaid Cymru to end a week of deadlock in Cardiff Bay.

The deal paved the way for Labour to form a minority Welsh Government.

Mr Jones said the people of Wales had asked Labour to form a government for the fifth time but to proceed with caution.    

UKIP's Neil Hamilton told AMs that Kirsty Williams and Leanne Wood had made themselves "political concubines in Carwyn's harem", sparking an outcry over sexism.

The following week, Llywydd Elin Jones said that Mr Hamilton's words fell foul of assembly standing orders and that the use of sexist language was "unacceptable".

The Western Mail's chief reporter pointed out the inconsistencies in UKIP AM Neil Hamilton's comments about the first minister.

"Your responsibilities are great and the expectations are high," the Queen tells AMs at the official opening of the Fifth Assembly.

Members held a debate on the referendum being held on 23 June, to decide whether Britain should leave or remain in the European Union.   

The proposal that "the National Assembly for Wales believes that Wales would be stronger, safer and more prosperous if it were to remain a part of the European Union" is passed with 44 for and nine against.

Wales voted to leave the European Union by a majority of just over 5% in the referendum on 23 June.

The final total in Wales was Leave 52.5% (854,572), and Remain 47.5% (772,347).

The leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Andrew RT Davies, who campaigned for Leave in the referendum, says there are "huge opportunities for investment and innovation for a global Britain and a global Wales".

Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood admitted the result was a "reality check".

"Article 50 should be triggered sooner rather than later," said the first minister. "Better people know where they stand."  

Image source, Thinkstock

Budget talks took place under the post-election deal by which Plaid Cymru agreed to support Carwyn Jones's return as first minister.  

Extra money for health, colleges, councils and the Welsh language was promised after Plaid Cymru agreed a £119m deal to back Labour's budget.

With no majority, the Welsh Government needed some opposition support to get its £15bn spending plans passed.

The Llywydd, Elin Jones, warns AMs to "show proper respect for the assembly" and to "maintain the integrity of this place", including no more heckling or personal insults.

Ms Jones told AMs that there "have been exchanges that have been both unfitting and unpleasant". 

"I have said recently that I wish to encourage democratic debate that is rigorous and robust, however members should be able to disagree on issues without resorting to personal insults," she said. 

"I expect members to show proper respect for the assembly and proper courtesy at all times to other members. This applies to us all, including ministers." 

Carwyn Jones told AMs that the results of the OECD Pisa tests make for "uncomfortable reading".

But he said his government will not "panic, throw everything up in the air" when the OECD , externalhas advised "we should stay on the track that we are on".

Wales' 15-year-old pupils scored below the international average in maths, reading and science for a third time.

Education Secretary Kirsty Williams, the sole remaining Liberal Democrat AM, said "we would all have liked to see greater progress".

She adds that the results for science are "deeply, deeply disappointing".

Former Plaid Cymru leader Lord Elis-Thomas told BBC Wales that he will be supporting the Welsh Government during this assembly term.

He sits as an independent AM after resigning from Plaid Cymru in October, claiming the party was not serious about supporting stable government.

The move gives Labour a working majority in the Senedd.