“National Gaelic Language Plan 2012-17”
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-04313, in the name of Alasdair Allan, on the national Gaelic language plan.
15:40
Oifigear Riaghlaidh, ged a tha mi moiteil deasbad air plana nàiseanta na Gàidhlig ùr fhosgladh an-diugh, tha mi ag aideachadh bhon a’ chiad dol a-mach nach bi planaichean a-mhàin gu leòr airson na Gàidhlig ath-nuadhachadh.
Seachdain no dhà air ais, chuala mi cuideigin air Radio nan Gàidheal ag ràdh—gu searbh, gu ìre—gun robh e an dòchas gum biodh rùm gu leòr anns an taigh-tasgaidh ùr ann an Eilean Leòdhais airson a h-uile seann phlana Gàidhlig. Ann an dòigh modhail, is dòcha gun robh e a’ toirt rabhadh dhomhsa.
Ach ged nach eil plana sam bith gu leòr, tha iad deatamach agus feumail. Air sgàth sin, is ann le fìor thoileachas a tha mi a’ fosgladh an deasbaid air a’ phlana cànain nàiseanta Gàidhlig 2012-15, a tha air a chruthachadh fo lagh Achd na Gàidhlig (Alba) 2005. Tha mi taingeil do Bhòrd na Gàidhlig airson an cuid ùine, saothair agus lèirsinn ann a bhith ag ullachadh a’ phlana. Tha mi cuideachd gu h-àraid taingeil do Art MacCarmaig, a bha roimhe na chàthraiche air a’ bhòrd, airson obair cho cruaidh air a’ phlana seo.
Dè tha sinn ag iarraidh? Tha mise ag iarraidh dà rud gu math sònraichte. Airson a’ chiad rud, tha mi ag iarraidh gum bi an àireamh de dhaoine ann an Alba aig a bheil a’ Ghàidhlig ann an 2021 air ais aig an aon ìre ’s a bha e ann an 2001. Bhiodh sin a’ ciallachadh gun robh sinn air grèim fhaighinn air stiùir tancair-ola na Gàidhlig mu dheireadh thall. Airson an dàrna rud, tha mi ag iarraidh gum bi daoine leis a’ Ghàidhlig deònach Gàidhlig a chleachdadh nas trice agus gum bi àitichean agus suidheachaidhean ann far am bi e comasach Gàidhlig a chleachdadh. Airson seo a thachairt, tha feum air ro-innleachd airson fàs. Seo na tha againn leis a’ phlana nàiseanta.
Tha am bòrd air grunn raointean-leasachaidh ainmeachadh agu seo iad: dachaigh agus tràth-bhliadhnaichean; foghlam ann an sgoiltean agus tidsearan; foghlam seach-sgoile; coimhearsnachdan; àite-obrach; ealain agus meadhanan; dualchas agus turasachd; agus corpas a’ chànain fhèin. Fhad ’s a tha sinn a’ gluasad air adhart leis a’ phlana, bheir e cothrom dhuinn ar dealas Gàidhlig bhon mhanifesto a chomharrachadh.
Ach tha am plana ag ràdh rudeigin tòrr nas bunaitiche na sin. Mar a bhios fios agaibh, bha rannsachadh air a dhèanamh o chionn ghoirid mu choimhearsnachd Shiaboist ann an Leòdhas. Chan eil adhbhar sam bith dhuinn creidsinn nach eil suidheachadh Siaboist diofraichte bho bhaile sam bith eile air a’ Ghàidhealtachd. Anns an fharsaingeachd, tha an rannsachadh ag innse gu bheil an t-àm againn dùsgadh. Mar eisimpleir, tha a’ mhòr chuid de choimhearsnachd Shiaboist taiceil don Ghàidhlig—agus tha sin math—ach fhuair an rannsachadh a-mach gun robh cuid a dhaoine den bheachd nach robh feum ann an cuid Gàidhlig a chleachdadh airson a bhith taiceil dhan Ghàidhlig. Tha deagh eisimpleir an seo dha na coimhearsnachdan eile far a bheil Gàidhlig làidir—cleachd i no caill i. Na bithibh a’ fèitheamh timcheall airson cuideigin eile Gàidhlig a shàbhladh.
Agus don Riaghaltas agus buidheanan Gàidhlig, tha seo a’ dèanamh soilleir cho deatamach ’s tha e gu bheil smachd aig coimhearsnachdan fhèin mar a bu chòir cànain a leasachadh. Air sàillibh seo, bha mi cho toilichte a bhith an sàs ann am plana Gàidhlig Shiaboist. Is e seo a’ chiad plana den t-seòrsa, agus tha mi air leth toilichte gun tug coimhearsnachd ceum cho sònraichte mar seo.
Feumar a-nis dèanamh cinnteach gu bheil coimhearsnachdan eile mothachail air a’ phàirt chudromach a tha aca a thaobh dèanamh cinnteach gum bi a’ Ghàidhlig seasmhach agus gu bheil na goireasan aca seo a dhèanamh.
Following is the simultaneous interpretation:
Although I am extremely proud to open the debate on the “National Gaelic Language Plan 2012-17”, I recognise from the outset that plans alone will not revitalise the language. A couple of weeks ago, I heard someone say on Radio nan Gàidheal—somewhat bitterly—that he hoped that there would be plenty of space in the new museum in Lewis for every old Gaelic plan that has been produced. In a polite way, perhaps that was a warning to me.
Although no single plan will ever be enough, a plan is still useful and important. For that reason, I am extremely pleased to be opening the debate on the national plan, which has been produced in line with the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005. I would like to thank Bòrd na Gàidhlig for the benefit of its time, energy and insight in preparing it. In particular, I would like to pass on my thanks to Arthur Cormack, the former chair of the board, for his work in the plan’s preparation.
What do we want? As many members know, I would like two things in particular. First, I would like the number of people who have Gaelic in Scotland in 2021 to be back at the 2001 level. Secondly, I would like to see people with Gaelic being prepared and willing to use the language more often, and for there to be opportunities and places for them to do so. The only way to achieve any of that is to have an unapologetic strategy for growth. The national plan is such a strategy.
The board has listed a number of development areas, which are grouped under the headings: “Home & Early Years”; “Education: Schools & Teachers”; “Education: Post-school Education”; “Communities”; “Workplace”; “Arts & Media”; “Heritage & Tourism”; and “Corpus” development. As we make progress with the plan, it will enable us to demonstrate commitment to our Gaelic manifesto commitments. In addition, the priorities in the plan will contribute to other manifesto commitments in areas such as language learning, Scottish studies, early years education and literacy.
The plan also says something more fundamental. As many members are aware, there was a recent study into Gaelic in the community of Shawbost in Lewis. I have no reason to believe that the picture in Shawbost is much different from that in other areas of the traditional Gàidhealtachd. Bluntly, the survey is a wake-up call. The community was broadly highly in favour of Gaelic, but a proportion of the Gaelic speakers who were surveyed believed that it was possible to be strongly in favour of Gaelic while seeing no need to speak Gaelic very much. That is a good example to communities where Gaelic is strong: use it or lose it, and do not wait for others to save the language.
For the Government and Gaelic bodies, the study highlights the importance of giving communities control over how the language should be developed. That is why I was pleased to be involved in the launch of Shawbost’s Gaelic language plan. It is the first plan of its type to be published and I am very pleased to see the community take such a positive step.
We must ensure that other communities see their important role in the survival of the language.
Tha mi duilich, ach chan eil Gàidhlig agam.
Following is the simultaneous interpretation:
I am sorry, I do not have Gaelic.
The member continued in English.
Does the minister agree that the national Gaelic language plan would be enhanced by support for the promotion of educational and visitor materials on significant characters in the long history of Gaelic civilisation, such as the great north coast 18th century poet, Rob Donn Mackay, who was the Gaelic Robert Burns? That would put communities and their landscape to the fore in the revival of Gaelic.
Tha mi a’ tuigsinn gun robh rudeigin a’ tachairt dìreach an-dè airson a bhith ga chuimhneachadh, agus tha mi gu math taiceil dhan a h-uile oidhirp a tha ann ann an Alba air fad sin a dhèanamh. Bha mise aig rudeigin anns an sgìre agam a’ cuimhneachadh bhàrd na sgìre—na Mic Mhuirich—agus tha an aon seòrsa leasain ann an sin cuideachd. Air sàilleibh sin agus rudan eile, tha mi toilichte a bhith an sàs ann am pròiseactan den t-seòrsa sin. Feumaidh sinn a-nis a bhith a’ dèanamh cinnteach gu bheil coimhearsnachdan mothachail mu dheidhinn nan rudan seo.
Bhon a thàinig sinn do Riaghaltas ann an 2007, tha sinn air ar taic do ar cànan a dhearbhadh. Mar eisimpleir, chuir sinn stad air gearraidhean airson cànain dùthchasach aig àm an sgrùdaidh air cosgaisean, a’ sealltainn gu bheil comas aig ar cànan piseach a chur ris an eaconamaidh ann an iomadh dòigh, a’ gabhail a-steach craoladh, cosnadh agus turasachd.
Tro stòras calpa nan sgoiltean Gàidhlig, tha sinn air sgoiltean agus aonadan Gàidhlig a leasachadh air feadh Alba. Tha sinn a-nis ag obair air stiùireadh ùr airson foghlam tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig agus tha mi an dòchas gum bi seo deiseil san fhoghar 2013.
Tha Gàidhlig ri faicinn ’s ga cluinntinn anns gach ceàrnaidh de dh’Alba. Tha an obair shoirbheachail MG ALBA agus BBC ALBA air a bhith uabhasach cudromach a dh’ionnsaigh seo. Mar as àbhaist, tha Sabhal Mòr Ostaig agus Fèisean nan Gàidheal agus am mòd ag obair air iomairtean ùr a bhios a’ neartachadh a’ chànan. Am bliadhna, bha fiù ’s Disney a’ cur ri luach agus inbhe na Gàidhlig leis an fiolm ùr “Brave”.
Ach, leis a seo, tha mi mothachail gu bheil dùbhlain shònraichte air thoiseach oirnn. Tha oifigear-trusaidh luchd-teagaisg Gàidhlig a-nis ag obair aig a’ bhòrd, agus mar sin tha barrachd tidsearan ùr againn am bliadhna na bha againn riamh ron seo. Le iarrtas foghlam Gàidhlig a’ sior-fhàs, tha feum ann airson tuilleadh tidsearan a tharraing agus a chumail ann am foghlam Gàidhlig cho mòr ’s a bha e riamh. Tha sinn mothachail air na trioblaidean an lùib seo a dhèanamh agus is ann air sàillibh seo a tha am bòrd air buidheann-obrach a stèidheachadh airson coimhead air a’ chùspair seo. Dhà-riribh, tha làn fhios agam gu bheil duilgheadasan ann le cuid de dh’ùghdarrasan ionadail a tha a’ cleachdadh nan tidsearan a tha aca airson Gàidhlig a-mhàin airson teagasg sa Bheurla, agus feumar seo a cheartachadh sa bhad.
Ged a tha e sgoinneil gu bheil sgoiltean Gàidhlig stèidhichte ann an Glaschu, Dùn Èideann, Inbhir Nis, Port Rìgh agus an Gearasdan, tha sinn ag aideachadh gum feum adhartas tachairt ann an àrd-sgoiltean cuideachd. Tha sinn mothachail gu bheil àitichean timcheall na dùthcha le deagh ùidh agus iarrtas sgoiltean Gàidhlig a bhrosnachadh, ann an Òban, Obar Dheathain, Peairt, Condobhrait agus eile. Tha e deatamach nach e pàrantan a-mhàin a bhios a’ toirt seo air adhart agus gum bi sinn a’ soilleireachadh do dh’ùghdarrasan ionadail na buannachdan an lùib a’ chànain.
Cuideachd, ann am mòran sgoiltean beaga air feadh na Ghàidhealtachd agus anns na h-eileanan, tha aonadan Gàidhlig a’ fàs. Ma tha a’ chuid as motha de phàrantan ga iarraidh, is e an ath cheum sgoil Ghàidhlig a stèidheachadh dhaibh. Tha mise deiseil agus deònach airson còmhradh leis na comhairlean agus coimhearsnachdan sin, agus tha mi an dòchas gum bi rudeigin a’ tachairt leis a seo air feadh na dùthcha.
Thàinig am Pàrtaidh Nàiseanta don Riaghaltas le dealas iarrtas airson foghlam meadhan na Gàidhlig a chur dhan lagh. Ged a tha sinn fhathast aig ìre gu math tràth leis a seo, tha mi an dòchas gun teid seo tron Phàrlamaid ann an 2014.
Gu dearbh, chan eil e uile mu dheidhinn sgoiltean idir. Feumar dèanamh cinnteach gum bi Gàidhlig air a bruidhinn agus a cleachdadh gu cunbhallach gach latha anns an latha an-diugh. Tha mi den bheachd gu bheil planaichean Gàidhlig air leth cudromach ma tha sinn a’ dol a lìbhrigeadh seo. Bu mhath leum taing a thoirt seachd do gach buidheann poblach a tha air plana Gàidhlig ullachadh.
Is dòcha gu bheil seo cunnartach do mhinistear a ràdh, ach tha mi a’ toirt cuireadh an-diugh do choimhearsnachdan Gàidhlig a bhith radaigeach anns na rudan a tha iad ag iarraidh agus ag ràdh. Tha mise làn dòchais airson na Gàidhlig, ach cho fad ’s a tha mi ag obair air planaichean tha mi a’ tuigsinn nach eil planaichean ag obair no a’ soirbheachadh fa-leth no nan aonar. Tha pìos bàrdachd le Maoileas Caimpbeul a’ tighinn a steach orm. Tha e ag innse sgeul mu oilthigh nam boiteagan far an robh an roinn Ceilteis aca a’ deasbad nàdur de ghnìomhairean mi-riaghaltaich fad an latha. Mar a thuirt am bard “thàinig lòn dubh an seo”.
Oifigear Riaghlaidh, tha mi a’ tighinn do cho-dhùnadh. Tha plana làidir agus freagarrach againn, ach chan eil an obair againn airson na Gàidhlig seachad an-diugh—chan eil ann ach toiseach tòiseachaidh. Tha mi a’ cur mo thaic ris a’ ghluasad seo.
Following is the simultaneous interpretation:
I recognise that an event took place yesterday to remember Rob Donn. I am very supportive of every effort that is taking place in Scotland. In my own area of the country, there was an event in remembrance of the MacMhuirich bards and there is a lesson for us there. I am happy to be involved in such projects.
We must ensure that we are in clear support of the language and, since we came to government in 2007, we have proved that we are. We stopped the cuts to indigenous language budgets and showed that languages can improve the economy through such things as broadcasting and tourism.
Through the Gaelic schools capital fund we have been able to support the development of new schools and units while helping with improvements at other schools. We are working on the development of new guidance for Gaelic-medium education, which I hope will be available in the autumn of 2013.
We now have better support for Gaelic learning at all ages. Gaelic is more visible in Scotland through MG Alba and BBC Alba. Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and Fèisean nan Gaidheal continue to go from strength to strength with new initiatives. The Mod now has a very impressive number of young people attending and participating. Even Disney has added to the status and prestige of Gaelic with the inclusion of the language in their new animated production “Brave”.
With those successes come particular challenges. We have a designated Gaelic teacher recruitment officer at the board, and that has helped us realise the highest number of Gaelic teachers qualifying in a single year. However, we clearly require more teachers to meet growing parental demand. We are aware of the difficulties in recruiting and retaining individuals in Gaelic-medium education, which is why the board has established a short-term working group to look into those challenges. I am aware that in some local authorities Gaelic probationers who have been allocated specifically to deliver Gaelic-medium education are being used in the English stream. That needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency.
It is very good to have Gaelic schools in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness, Portree and Fort William, but we also need to ensure that progression is available to secondary school pupils. We know that other communities, such as Oban, Aberdeen, Perth, Condorrat and many others, have shown great interest in encouraging the development of Gaelic schools. It is essential that that should not just be parent led and that we take steps to encourage local authorities to see the benefits of the language and to provide those learning opportunities.
There are many examples of small schools throughout the Highlands and Islands with growing Gaelic units. If it is the wish of the majority of parents, the next step is to establish a Gaelic school for them. I am ready and willing to discuss that with councils and those communities. I hope that something will happen with regard to that throughout the land.
The SNP came to power with a commitment to look at legislation to deliver a parental right to Gaelic-medium education. We are at the early stages of the process but I hope that we will see a bill taken through Parliament in 2014.
Of course, it is not all about schools. We need to ensure the vitality and acceptability of the language in everyday life. The Gaelic language plans deliver in that regard and must be supported. I commend the public bodies that have produced plans. Gaelic language plans should be embraced, not feared. They need to be seen not as a burden or something that attracts additional cost but as a better use of resource.
The aim is clear: to reverse the fortunes of Gaelic in Scotland. That is not something that the Scottish Government or Bòrd na Gàidhlig can achieve by itself.
I am full of hope for the future of Gaelic but I fully understand that plans alone will not be enough to make the difference. A piece of poetry from Maoileas Campbell springs to mind. He tells a story of a university in which worms in the Celtic department debated the nature of irregular verbs all day. As the bard said:
“a black bird came here”.
We have a strong and appropriate plan, but the work for Gaelic is not done. This is merely a start. I commend the motion to the Parliament.
I move,
That the Parliament agrees that the principal and urgent need of Gaelic in Scotland is to see an increase in the number of people learning, speaking and using the Gaelic language; notes that the development areas and strategic priorities contained in the National Gaelic Language Plan have been identified and selected by Bòrd na Gàidhlig for the purpose of securing this aim, and further agrees that this plan should, therefore, be regarded as a strategy for growth that will encourage the Gaelic communities of Scotland to promote the language and speak it in more settings.
15:51
I am pleased to have the opportunity to add to this important debate on the future of the Gaelic language in Scotland.
Unlike the minister, who spoke fluently in Gaelic, but perhaps luckily for members, translators and Gaelic speakers across Scotland, I will not attempt to deliver any of what I have to say on the national Gaelic plan in our ancestral mother tongue. To say that I would mangle that beautiful language would be an understatement.
I am pleased to take the opportunity again to pledge the Scottish Conservatives’ support for the Gaelic language. As members of different parties have pointed out in the Parliament on a number of occasions, it was the Conservatives who ignited the Gaelic revival, in the early 1980s, by delivering £16 million of funding support for that purpose. We continue to work in co-operation with our partners to ensure that that impetus is sustained.
As we heard, the Gaelic language forms an intrinsic part of Scotland’s history and culture. The temporal reach of Gaelic is not limited to the past; the language connects us to our future and informs the evolution of our society, our identities and our characters.
Gaelic was a thriving language with more than 230,000 speakers in the late 1800s, but the number of speakers dwindled to just under 60,000 at the most recent count. Although the Gaelic decline has been less pronounced over recent decades, the language’s designation by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in 2009 as a world-endangered language adds a new level of importance and urgency to the Gaelic debate.
When it comes to language, there is very much one guiding principle: use it or lose it, as the minister himself said. The national Gaelic plan underlines that simple truth and correctly identifies the key role that education plays in the survival of Gaelic. In that connection, I wonder whether it is worth exploring nursery education. I vividly remember visiting a nursery in Paisley some years ago where children were learning elementary French from an early age. The children had the most remarkable, sponge-like capacity to absorb words and phrases. Knowledge acquired at that age sticks with us—just as nursery rhymes do. In many communities, there are older Gaelic speakers who might be interested in contributing their knowledge at that level. Perhaps the minister will reflect on that.
It is encouraging that Bòrd na Gàidhlig has said that it will play a crucial part in Gaelic teacher recruitment as well as improving
“workforce planning ... and education of Gaelic teachers.”
However, that is not in itself a fully formed strategy; it is merely a statement of how things should be and how we would like them to be. Time and again in the national Gaelic plan, essential detail about the realisation of the stated outcomes is missing.
Therefore, I ask the minister to elaborate on what the board’s new role in teacher recruitment, planning and education will entail and what will be done to achieve the board’s ambitious outcomes of doubling the annual Gaelic-medium education intake to 800 by 2017, increasing the number of pupils who are engaged in Gaelic learning education and expanding the availability of Gaelic-medium subjects in secondary schools.
Education in itself is by no means sufficient to save Gaelic from further decline, as the minister acknowledged. UNESCO has noted that
“the most crucial factor is the attitude of the speaker community towards its own language.”
Gaelic speakers must therefore be encouraged to optimise the use of Gaelic and to foster its growth outwith as well as within their communities. With there being more than 90,000 people in Scotland with an ability in the Gaelic language but only 60,000 who actually speak it, the Government and the board still have plenty of work to do in harnessing the unrealised potential of that silent 30,000.
Identifying strategic priorities and listing outcomes that are to be achieved show ambition and are part of an important strategy, but we need creative collaboration between communities and Government, and inventive solutions for how best to engage those who have an interest in learning the language. Once again, the detail on how that will be achieved is made conspicuous by its absence from the plan.
It is also imperative that the ambitious language of the proposed strategy and the outcomes that are identified in the plan translate into tangible achievements. That is particularly true given the increased cash funding for Gaelic that was announced in last month’s budget. That is welcome, but in times of limited budgets and scarce resources the Scottish Government as well as the board must be able to show that money is being spent wisely and effectively by delivering material outcomes. That might mean focusing spending on areas and in communities in which increased teaching provision matches identified interest from learners, so that the combination of the two can reasonably be expected to contribute to an expanded awareness and use of the language.
It is for that reason that the Scottish Conservatives have lodged an amendment that the Government should devise a mechanism to measure whether the national Gaelic plan is delivering the specific outcomes that it identifies and that we all want to see. Although the board will monitor the implementation of development activities, the importance of the issue—not to mention the considerable sums of public money that are at stake—requires the Government to undertake an assessment of how the board and the plan are working. Our amendment is intended to be constructive, and I hope that it is seen as such.
I end by underlining the fact that we in Scotland do not exist in isolation, and the problems that the Gaelic language faces are by no means exclusive to Scotland. UNESCO’s endangered languages programme supports communities and Governments in promoting endangered languages by providing services such as policy advice, technical expertise and training, and a platform for the exchange and transfer of innovative ideas and good practice between countries that are threatened with the loss of a language. We should take full advantage of that expertise, and I invite the minister to comment on the role that he envisages for international collaboration in the implementation of the national Gaelic plan—the plan is silent on that.
Although the national Gaelic language plan should not be seen as a panacea for all the Gaelic language’s woes, and although it is imperative that words on the page are translated into tangible outcomes, the plan is to be welcomed for charting a course in the right direction to ensure the continued survival of Gaelic. That is what we all want.
I support the motion and I move amendment S4M-04313.1, to insert at end:
“and that the Scottish Government should devise a mechanism to measure whether or not the strategy is delivering improvement against the outcomes and priorities that it identifies in the plan.”
15:58
I commend the minister for his contribution to the debate.
When we travel abroad on holiday, we often marvel when we hear young people switching from their native language to English and we say how wonderful it is to hear youngsters being fluent in more than one language. However, we often overlook the fact that, in Scotland, many thousands of young people are fluent in more than one language. The recent wave of immigration means that many youngsters are fluent in Urdu or Punjabi and English, and many are fluent in Polish and English, but we give scant recognition to the many thousands of young people who speak Gaelic and English and can interchange between both languages fluently and seamlessly.
There is a growing recognition of the value of being able to speak more than one language. It gives youngsters the ability to learn and become adept at other languages, and it contributes to their overall learning ability and experience. In that context, we should not see the exhortation for young people to learn and speak Gaelic as something of an imposition or an abstraction. We should see the language as something that it is fundamental for many young people to learn.
Annabel Goldie spoke about the attitude of speaker communities to their own language. Her comment echoed the minister’s example of the survey in which some people saw it as possible to be supportive of Gaelic but not to use it. He said that people should use it or lose it. The surest way in which to lose a language is to allow it to wither on the vine by becoming complacent and lazy about its use. If it is not a living language, it will surely die.
There are examples of how a language that is rooted in its community and its background can wither and die. Many people in my community came to this country speaking Irish as their first language. Many came from the hills of Donegal, but their children did not continue to speak or to learn Irish, and the language is now completely alien to them, even though their parents and grandparents might still have a knowledge of it. When people are taken away from their background, their heritage, their culture, their roots and their environment, languages can surely die.
Gaelic has made a huge contribution to the cultural, social and indeed economic life of Scotland. As the minister and others have said, we need to encourage more Gaelic speakers. The fact that some 1,000 Gaelic speakers are dying every year means that there is an urgency in replacing those who have Gaelic as their first language, and the fact that many people in Scotland can understand and read Gaelic but cannot speak it fluently means that there is more to be done with them.
Equally, however, unless we can persuade young Gaelic speakers that there is a purpose to their speaking Gaelic, they will lose their initiative and their enthusiasm. We need to encourage healthy, vibrant communities in the heartlands of Gaelic so that those who remain can see the benefit of continuing to participate and to speak Gaelic. We know that many people move and, as they do so, they sometimes lose their willingness to continue with the language, although it is interesting to note the statistic that 19 per cent of Gaelic speakers live in the greater Glasgow area.
There are now huge pressures on young people. Many of them are still fluent in more than one language, but we know the challenges that the introduction of satellite television, such as Sky, has created. Even where households and the community encourage use of the language, there are external pressures on children, and when they are playing with each other they mimic and reflect what they see and hear on television. That should warn us that the challenge is a significant one, and it cannot be met cheaply or easily.
Irrespective of our backgrounds and our culture, we should recognise the distinct and unique place that Gaelic has in Scottish life. We should all commit ourselves to ensuring that everything possible is done to ensure not just the survival but the flourishing of a language without which Scotland would be a much poorer place.
That brings us to the open debate. Speeches should be of four minutes.
16:04
Taing, Oifigeir Riaghlaidh. Tha mi a’ cur fàilte chridheil air plana nàiseanta 2012 gu 2017 a tha Bòrd na Gàidhlig a’ cur air bhog. Is e plana dòchasach a tha ann, a tha a’ dol a thogail air bunait shoirbheachail a’ phlana a bha ann roimhe agus a tha a’ dealbh lèirsinn airson fàs na Gàidhlig.
Tha àite cudromach aig a’ Ghàidhlig ann an dualchas agus cultar na h-Alba agus tha a cuid seasmhachd, cuide ri Beurla agus Albais, a’ daingneachadh inbhe na h-Alba mar choimhearsnachd trì-chànanach. Tha pailteas fhianais againn gu bheil dà-chànanas na bhuannachd do chloinn; tha e a’ cuideachadh le slàinte eanchainn agus, mar thoradh air an sin, slàinte seann dhaoine le bhith a’ cur bacadh air tinneasan mar Alzheimer’s.
Gheibhear fianais cuideachd gu bheil dà-chànanas a’ cruthachadh buannachdan eaconomach. Faodaidh clann a thèid oideachadh tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig a bhith fileanta agus litreach ann an dà chànain ro aois 10 bliadhna agus, mar sin, bidh e furasta gu leòr dhaibh an treas cànan ionnsachadh.
Eadar 2010 agus 2011, chuir sinn fàilte air fàs sònraichte san àireamh de dh’oileanaich ann am foghlam tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig. Is e amas a’ phlana-gnìomha ùr am fàs seo a ghlèidheadh agus a mheudachadh. Is e am prìomh amas gun tig dùblachadh air an àireamh de chloinn a tha a’ tòiseachadh ann am foghlam tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig ro 2017 gu 800 sa bhliadhna.
Tha am plana nàiseanta a’ toirt prìomhachas do foghlam ro-sgoile, foghlam sgoile agus obair coimhearsnachd airson na h-amasan sin a choileanadh. Tha obair sa choimhearsnachd a’ ciallachadh a bhith a’ brosnachadh luchd-labhairt na Gàidhlig gu bhith a’ cuideachadh le bhith a’ misneachadh dhaoine eile agus cuideachd a’ cruthachadh àrainneachd bogaidh airson luchd-ionnsachaidh. Chaidh obair a dhèanamh a chum seo anns na dhà no trì bliadhnaichean mu dheireadh, eadar a bhith a’ meudachadh cleachdadh na Gàidhlig am measg bhuidhnean poblach, gu bhith a’ cur ris an àireimh de shoighnichean rathaid Gàidhlig.
Tha na sgoiltean Gàidhlig sònraichte san iomairt seo. Bu mhath leam fàilte a chur air an £7 millean a chuir Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd an seilbh airson sgoil Ghàidhlig ùr a thogail sa Ghearasdan. Bidh pàirt sònraichte aig an sgoil seo ri chluich san iomairt airson na h-àireimh de chloinn a tha a’ faighinn teagasg tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig a leasachadh.
Is e a’ bhuannachd as motha a tha aig na sgoiltean Gàidhlig gu bheil iad a’ tabhainn àrainneachd bogaidh, oir tha seo a’ brosnachadh na Gàidhlig mar chànain seach cuspair acadaimigeach. Tha e riatanach gun glèidh na sgoiltean an fheallsanachd seo agus gum mair iad mar sgoiltean bogaidh; bu chòir gur e a’ Ghàidhlig a bhithear a’ cleachdadh chan ann a-mhàin san t-seòmar-teagaisg ach tron togalach gu lèir, eadar fàilteachas gu na trannsaichean agus na bùird-fiosrachaidh dhan àite-bidhe agus an raon-cluiche. Chan eil àite ann airson a bhith a’ lagachadh a’ phrionnsabail seo, no thèid bunait foghlam tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig fhèin a lagachadh.
Tha mi a’ creidsinn gu bheil an dreach as ùire seo de phlana nàiseanta na Gàidhlig a’ tabhainn ro-innleachd dhuinn airson fàs na Gàidhlig thairis air a’ chòig bliadhna a tha romhainn. Is e dìleab an t-seann phlana gu bheil barrachd ag ionnsachadh Gàidhlig agus tha Bòrd na Gàidhlig misneachail gun urrainnear togail air an seo san àm ri teachd. Feumaidh sinn uile spàirn chruaidh a dhèanamh an adhartas seo a chumail a’ dol agus a’ chànan a chur air an t-slighe a chum fàs maireannach.
Tha buannachdan mòra ann do dhaoine fa leth, do choimhearsnachdan agus do dh’ Alba san fharsaingeachd mar phàirt de choimhearsnachd gnìomhach, dà-chànanach, agus tha mi a’ moladh plana Bhòrd na Gàidhlig mar cheum cudromach air adhart.
Following is the simultaneous interpretation:
I very much welcome Bòrd na Gàidhlig’s national Gaelic language plan for 2012 to 2017. This positive plan looks to build on the success of the previous action plan and outlines a vision for growth of the Gaelic language.
The Gaelic language is an important part of Scotland’s heritage and culture, and its continued presence along with English and Scots ensures that Scotland is an active trilingual community. There is growing evidence of the benefits of our children speaking more than one language: it improves the working of the brain and, therefore, health in old age by helping to delay the onset of diseases such as Alzheimer’s. It has also been shown to provide economic benefits. As children educated in a Gaelic-medium education environment can be fluent and literate in two languages by the age of ten, they will find it easier to learn a third language.
Between 2010 and 2011 there was a welcome growth in the number of people entering Gaelic-medium education, and the national Gaelic plan’s aim is to preserve and increase that growth. Indeed, the main aim is to double by 2017 the number of children starting Gaelic-medium education to 800 per year.
The national plan gives priority to pre-school education, school education and community action to meet those aims. By community action, I mean that we should use Gaelic speakers to promote the language and create an immersive environment for learners. Over the past two or three years, a lot of work has been done on that, from increasing the use of Gaelic in public bodies to increasing the number of Gaelic road signs. As the Gaelic schools are especially important in this initiative, I welcome Highland Council’s £7 million investment in a new Gaelic school in Fort William. That school will play a special part as we seek to increase the number of children taught through the medium of Gaelic.
The biggest benefit and influence of the schools is that they create an immersive environment that encourages and develops Gaelic as a language instead of it being just another subject. It is important that Gaelic-medium education schools retain that immersive ethos. Gaelic should be not only the language spoken in the classroom but used throughout the school in the reception areas, in the corridors, on noticeboards, in the playground and in the canteen. If we dilute that principle, we will dilute the very essence of Gaelic-medium education.
I believe that the latest national Gaelic language plan offers a template for the continued growth of the Gaelic language over the next five years. The legacy of the previous plan is that more people are learning Gaelic, and Bòrd na Gàidhlig is confident that it can build on that. We must all strive to continue the progress made in the past five years and continue to use the language. After all, being part of a bilingual community has many benefits for individuals and the community, and I commend Bòrd na Gàidhlig’s plan as a major step forward in this journey.
16:09
Today is an important opportunity not only to recognise the importance of the Gaelic language to Scotland, but to identify how best we can expand the range of opportunities available for people to use and experience the Gaelic language and culture. Given the current economic climate, the obvious challenge is to identify ways in which that can be done creatively and effectively. As is stated in the national Gaelic language plan, Gaelic is an official language of Scotland and investment in Gaelic initiatives has the potential to produce educational, social and cultural benefits. The plan’s headline aim of attaining stability in the number of people speaking Gaelic is an aim that I join previous speakers this afternoon in welcoming.
This summer, I was fortunate enough to make my first visit to the Western Isles. When I was there, I was struck not only by the beautiful scenery but by the very important role that the Gaelic language has in those areas—not just in the past, but in the here and now, as a living language. We must support those communities to protect that heritage and Gaelic as a living language.
Moving from one beautiful part of the world to another, it would be remiss of me not to mention that the Royal National Mod is coming to Paisley in 2013. The festival—famous for celebrating Gaelic linguistic and cultural heritage—provides opportunities for people of all ages to perform across a range of competitive disciplines, including Gaelic music and song, Highland dancing, drama and literature.
Having been once before, I know that Scotland’s premier Gaelic festival will not only be a very enjoyable event for local residents to attend, but will act to raise awareness of Gaelic language and culture in an area where the language is not readily spoken. I am certainly looking forward to going again when it comes to Paisley next year.
I spoke in the chamber earlier this year about the importance of introducing children to modern languages at an early age and the same applies here. If we are to see an increase in the number of Gaelic speakers, it is essential that early years development should be considered a priority.
The plan identifies a number of strategic priorities for the early years development of Gaelic, including strengthening links
“between the use of Gaelic in the home and Gaelic”
pre-school
“provision”
and
“Improving the quality and availability of voluntary-led Gaelic pre-school activities”.
Those areas have to be considered as priorities, but I would also like to see further details and specific plans for how we achieve each of the priorities identified in the plan, as well as an outline of the resources required to make the plan a success.
Although I was not a member of the Education and Culture Committee at the time, it is important to recognise the points that were raised in the committee report that was published in December 2011. The committee welcomed the plan but did express a concern that the plan is so wide ranging and broadly focused that it was
“difficult to identify ... and ... determine the most important priorities”.
To avoid falling into the trap of becoming another strategy that sounds great on paper but fails to have any real impact on the ground, I hope that that concern is taken into account. It is essential that key priorities are established and specific plans are outlined for how those priorities are to be achieved. I also hope that the Scottish Government will monitor closely the progress that is made in achieving the plan’s aims.
If the plan is to be successful in its overarching aim, it is clear that collaborative working will be required. A number of bodies have an important role to play, particularly in the development of the Gaelic language in the early years. There is an opportunity for public authorities in Scotland to deliver elements of this national Gaelic language plan through their own strategies. However, it is essential that the Scottish Government takes the lead and provides the necessary support and resources to allow the Gaelic language to continue to play an important role in a modern, multicultural and multilingual Scotland.
16:13
Tha mi à Clunes, baile beag faisg air a’ Ghearasdan. Cha robh Gàidhlig aig mo pharantan. Chuala mi rud beag Gàidhlig bho na seann daoine anns an sgìre nuair a bha mi òg aig dannsaichean, cèilidhean agus air an tuathanas far an robh mi ag obair.
Nuair a chaidh mi dhan àrd-sgoil, dh’ionnsaich mi Fraingis. Cha do thaghadh ach duine no dhà Gàidhlig mar chuspair. Carson? Airson a’ mhòr-chuid de dhaoine, cha robh Gàidhlig, na Gàidheil no cultar na Gàidhealtachd cudromach. B’ e seo an suidheachadh tro eachdraidh na h-Alba. Nam bheachd-sa, b’ e rud sgriosail sin. Is e rud cianail a tha ann agus feumaidh sinn uile ga cheartachadh.
An-duigh, tha cuisean nas fheàrr. Tha daoine ag aithneachadh dè cho prìseil ’s a tha ar cànan ach tha tòrr againn fhathast ri dhèanamh. Tha an rathad fada.
Is ann an Inbhir Nis anns an robh a’ chiad bun-sgoil Gàidhlig. Tha sin math. Tha Comhairle na Gàidhlteachd a’ togail bun-sgoiltean ùra ann an Gearastan is Port Rìgh. Tha seo fiòr mhath. Feumaidh sinn barrachd tidsearan trèanadh.
Dh’ionnsaich an nighean agam Gàidhlig aig bun-sgoil ann an Inbhir Nis agus tha ise fileanta. Tha an dithis nighean aice a’ dol dhan Sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu agus tha iad comasach a bhith “cheeky” ann an dà chànan.
Is urrain do chloinne air feadh Alba pàirt a ghabhail ann an foghlam tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig. Bidh fios againn gu bheil ar cànan laidir is beò, ge-tà, nuair a tha a h-uile duine a’ bruidhinn Gàidhlig, chan ann dìreach anns na sgoiltean ach air feadh na coimhearsneachdan.
Is toil leam am plana—airson rudan a leasachadh, tha feum againn air plana. Tha planaichean cudromach, ach, airson rudan atharrachadh, chan eil planaichean gu leòr. Gach latha, bu chòir dhuinn oidhirp mhòr a dhèanamh Gàidhlig a bhruidhinn agus a bhrosnachadh.
Chan eil ach beagan Gàidhlig agam—as is apparent—ach tha mi smaoineachadh gum feum sinn Gàidhlig bruidhinn a h-uile latha. Feumaidh sinn sabaid airson Gàidhlig ann am Pàrlamaid na h-Alba.
Tha mi toilichte a’ cur fàilte air a’ phlana nàiseanta 2012 gu 2017. Is e rud cudromach airson na Gàidhealtachd, agus Alba gu lèir, a tha ann.
Following is the translation:
I am from Clunes, a village near Fort William. My parents did not have Gaelic. I used to hear a little Gaelic when I was young from the old folks in the area at ceilidhs, parties and on the farm where I worked.
When I went to high school, I learned French. Only a few people picked Gaelic as a subject. Why? For most people, Gaelic, Highlanders and Highland culture were not important. That has been the situation throughout Scotland’s history. In my opinion, that is a travesty. It is a terrible thing that we must all put right.
Today, things are better. People recognise the value of our language but there is much still to do. The road is long.
The first Gaelic primary school was in Inverness. That is good. Highland Council is building new primary schools in Fort William and Portree. That is really good, but we need to train more teachers.
My daughter is a fluent Gaelic speaker. She learned at primary school in Inverness. Her daughters attend the Glasgow Gaelic school and are able to be cheeky bilingually.
Following is the simultaneous interpretation:
Children all over Scotland can receive their education in the medium of Gaelic. However, we will know our language is truly alive and kicking when everyone is speaking it not just in the schools but throughout the community.
I like the plan—to develop we need a plan. Plans are important, but to change things plans are not enough: we need action. Every day we should make a huge effort to speak and promote Gaelic.
I have only a little Gaelic—as is apparent—but I think that we must speak Gaelic every day. We must fight for Gaelic in the Scottish Parliament.
I am pleased to welcome the plan. It is important for not only the Highlands, but Scotland.
Apologies for the slight technical difficulties that meant that we did not get an interpretation of some of that speech—a translation will be included in the Official Report.
16:17
I come to the debate as a native of the Western Isles; as a frequent traveller there by land and by sea; as the son and grandson of people who are fluent and learned in the Gaelic language; and, most immediately, as the father of a child who, unlike most of my generation, has had access to a Gaelic-medium education.
I took part in the first parliamentary debate on and partly in Gaelic on 2 March 2000. As well as being a milestone in the history of the relationship between Gaelic and the state, whether Scottish or British, that day also happened to be my younger daughter Iona’s second birthday. From the age of three to the age of 12, she was able to enjoy a Gaelic-medium education at sgoil-àraich agus bun-sgoil Gilcomstoun, learning through the medium of Gaelic in the Gaelic unit of an inner-city nursery and primary school in Aberdeen.
We have come a long way in the era of devolution, but there is still a long way to go. Too often, a vibrant nursery and primary education in Gaelic is followed by a narrower experience at secondary level. In Aberdeen, studying Gaelic at Hazlehead academy limits the opportunities to study other modern languages and at that secondary school nothing is taught through the medium of Gaelic apart from Gaelic itself.
Hazlehead and schools like it do a great job with the resources that are available, but if they are to do even more I hope that ministers will recognise that Gaelic-designated secondary schools in Scotland’s cash-strapped councils require adequate resources as well as words of encouragement, important though those are.
After learning comes earning, so the national Gaelic plan is right to highlight the importance of the workplace. Targets are not really met just by counting the number of people who have learned the language at school—I learned Latin but I am not a Latin speaker. Gaelic will be part of young people’s lives after they leave school only if it is a living language, which is used in and by Gaelic speaking communities.
The workplace is key to that and the largest workforce in many Gaelic-speaking communities is the local CalMac ferry. Ten per cent of CalMac’s workforce speaks Gaelic. That includes not just people who work directly with the passengers who travel to and from the islands but, as I have heard many times, people who work in the engine room and on the bridge. CalMac provides a rare example of workers, managers and customers alike speaking Gaelic. Consequently, its ferries are among the most important workplaces, if Gaelic is to have a future as the first language of people at work.
CalMac has a Gaelic language plan that is as good as that of any other public body. It has—rightly—spent time and money on developing that. The company’s proactive support for Gaelic delivers huge benefits to the culture and language of the Hebrides and to the employment of local men and women. No other shipping or passenger transport company does more.
The Scottish Government will soon put out to tender the contract for operating Clyde and Hebrides ferry services. It must not judge bids by considering only which bidder offers the lowest price. If ministers want to strengthen Gaelic in the workplaces that matter most, they should make it a requirement of the forthcoming procurement exercise that every bidder has in place a properly designed and resourced Gaelic language plan before the tendering exercise begins. In that way, CalMac will suffer no competitive disadvantage from its commitment to Gaelic, and nobody will be able to separate the jobs and services from the communities and the culture to which they rightly belong. Mòran taing.
We have a little time in hand, if anyone wants to take interventions.
16:21
Tapadh leibh, Presiding Officer. Unfortunately, I cannot replicate the language skills of my party colleagues the minister, Dave Thompson and John Finnie, all of whom are far more proficient in Gaelic than I am. However, as a fellow MSP for the Highlands and Islands, I know how important the continuing encouragement and development of Gaelic as a vital part of the nation’s identity are.
Last weekend, Gaelic singer Julie Fowlis followed her magnificent work for the film “Brave”, which has been referred to, with a stunning performance in front of a worldwide audience to herald the beginning of Scotland’s Ryder cup 2014 preparations. She was brought up in North Uist in a Gaelic-speaking community but, like others, she was not a fluent Gaelic speaker. She benefited first from the fèis movement and she went on to be a student of the language at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, which is Scotland’s Gaelic college in Skye.
As with many lesser-spoken languages, the spread of Gaelic has been inhibited as English and other languages have become the lingua franca. Fewer than 60,000 Gaelic speakers, who are concentrated in the Western Isles, Argyll and Bute and the Highlands, are estimated to remain in Scotland. They represent just over 1 per cent of the population. That must be a concern, given that, in comparison, more than 20 per cent of the population in Wales can speak Welsh.
If we are to witness a dramatic upturn in the number of Gaelic speakers across Scotland, we require a comprehensive and holistic approach to be taken by all the agencies whose remit is the furtherance of Gaelic. I particularly welcome the focus on early years and education in the national plan’s key outcomes. Evidence of success from that comes from my neighbour, nine-year-old Ruaraidh, who attends the local Gaelic school. He said:
“We don’t learn Gaelic, we live it—like the way you get to speak English”.
Promoters of Gaelic-medium education now focus on the benefits of bilingualism rather than the direct benefits of Gaelic, but we must never lose sight of the links to the past, people and places. We can think of all the effort that goes into curating artefacts that are of historical value. How much more precious is a living language? Common sense dictates that we must continue to focus on Gaelic-medium teaching in schools or at least on facilitating Gaelic lessons to maintain the language.
The role that artists and musicians such as Julie Fowlis play in promoting Gaelic is another reminder of how important the language is. Others acknowledge its importance. A local teacher who assumed that two Polish immigrants had arrived for an English as a foreign language course was amazed when they said that their English was fine and that they were interested in signing up to learn Gaelic.
We must never underestimate others. Scots sometimes have to be convinced by somebody else that something is a really good idea. I suspect that, across Europe, we would get massive support for our plan. In Europe, there is a determination to retain languages such as Gaelic, and we must endorse that.
I found out earlier today that the last speaker of the Cromarty dialect, Bobby Hogg, had died aged 92, removing one of the more colourful threads of Scotland’s linguistic tapestry. I sincerely hope that the plan that we have will prevent similar headlines about the last Gaelic speaker in the years to come. As Ruaraidh said, we have to live it.
16:25
Good afternoon. I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak in the debate. Although I do not speak Gaelic, I come from a bilingual family, meaning that I have an understanding of the value of languages. As a councillor, I was delighted to be at the opening of Glasgow’s first Gaelic-medium school, in my ward of Woodlands, in 1999. Such was its success that the school had to be relocated to a larger premises in 2006. I am sure that members will join me in commending Glasgow City Council’s commitment to Gaelic-medium education.
With that in mind, I will focus on the education sector. Members have already mentioned that the national Gaelic language plan sets three main targets for the schools sector: a doubling of the number of children enrolling in Gaelic-medium education by 2017; a year-on-year increase in the number of pupils learning Gaelic in primary and secondary schools; and an expansion in the availability of Gaelic-medium subjects in secondary schools. Although I welcome those objectives and do not doubt the commitment of members of all parties to Gaelic, the reality is that providing Gaelic-medium education is the responsibility of local authorities, and everyone knows that local authorities are having to make tough spending choices as their budgets get squeezed. I would like to hear more from the minister about how the resource to meet those targets will be found.
I welcome the commitment to promoting more opportunities for communities and networks of Gaelic speakers to use Gaelic in their day-to-day lives. I am regularly involved in community activities that use Urdu or Punjabi, and I can testify to the effectiveness of such activities in making those languages living languages in our communities.
I am interested to know how the minister is going to support local authorities up and down Scotland to achieve those goals. They are nice things to have and nice targets to reach, but how are we physically going to resource them? I remember Glasgow City Council struggling to provide those facilities when things were good and we are now in challenging times. I would like to hear the minister’s views on that.
Will the member take an intervention?
Please allow me to finish this sentence.
I will be very proud and happy, the day I walk down Allison Street, Maxwell Road or the Great Western Road and, as well as Punjabi and Urdu, I hear Gaelic being spoken. Achieving that will require a huge commitment.
Does the member agree that, regardless of who forms the Government centrally or the local authorities, there is a challenge to be faced in the fact that we have more than 400 Gaelic-speaking teachers who are trained, but we still have difficulty in recruiting people to posts?
I absolutely agree with the member, and I want to work to achieve the goal of recruiting those people. That is a challenge for us as a nation. It is not only about language; it is also about culture and heritage, and language plays an important role in that. However, it is a fact of life that, to do what we want to do, we need to find the resource for that, and I want to know where that resource is coming from.
16:30
Feasgar math. Tha mi toilichte a bhith a’ bruidhinn anns an deasbad mu phlana cànain nàiseanta Gàidhlig, ach tha mi duilich nach eil Gàidhlig gu leòr agam fhathast, ged a bhuin mi do Steòrnabhagh. Mar sin, leanaidh mi ann am Beurla.
Following is the simultaneous interpretation:
Good afternoon. I am pleased to speak in the debate on the national Gaelic language plan but am sorry that I do not yet have enough Gaelic to proceed in the language, though I have ties to Stornoway. I will therefore continue in English.
The member continued in English.
I am pleased to contribute to the debate though, to my shame, even though I hail from Stornoway, I do not speak Gaelic. One of Gaeldom’s best singers, the late Ishbel MacAskill from Lewis, used to say that she hated coming in from the Point area to that great metropolis of Stornoway because the “townies” did not speak Gaelic. As a townie, that is my excuse and I am sticking to it for the time being.
I may not speak the language properly—something that I intend to sort in future—but I am a staunch supporter of the Gaelic language and culture and am firmly of the belief that everything should be done to protect our indigenous language, which is still in a fragile condition.
It is quite appropriate that we are discussing the Gaelic language just one week before the Royal National Mod starts in Dunoon. Four years ago, in 2008, I was the convener of the National Mod in Falkirk, which not only raised awareness of Gaelic and traditional culture in Falkirk district, but gave the local economy a £1.5 million boost, just when the economic downturn began to kick in. I would therefore urge members to encourage their local authorities to bid to host the National Mod, as there are major cultural and economic benefits from doing so. My colleague George Adam was instrumental in bidding for the Mod to come to Paisley next year.
The Mod has left a lasting legacy in Falkirk district but that is never enough. Last week, Falkirk Council approved its Gaelic language plan for submission to Bòrd na Gàidhlig. While the Gaelic language plan compels local authorities to improve access to Gaelic, there is very little appetite, certainly in the central belt, to do any more than has to be done. That must change, and I look forward to more initiatives from Bòrd na Gàidhlig to encourage greater understanding and participation.
That is why, following the 2008 Mod, I was instrumental in founding the Falkirk Gaelic forum, which has been tasked with lobbying for the introduction of Gaelic-medium education in Falkirk district, starting with a cròileagan, or nursery. Although we still have a way to go, in-house delivery of GME is much preferable to farming out GME to the neighbouring local authorities of Stirling and North Lanarkshire, which should be commended for their past commitment to the language. GME provision in the Falkirk Council area is an issue that still has to be addressed.
While the launch of the national Gaelic plan is whole-heartedly welcomed, a couple of issues still need to be addressed. There is a great deal of focus on the number of Gaelic speakers. I welcome the goal of growing the number of adult Gaelic speakers by increasing the number who acquire Gaelic from 2,000 to 3,000 by 2017, and I hope that I will be one of them. However, we need to have confidence that they will be useful or committed to the language in future, post-2017.
Clearly, GME equips young people with two languages without any detriment to other subjects, and it is certainly worthy of increased investment. Therefore, I welcome the ambitious target in the plan to increase the number of children benefiting from GME by doubling the current annual intake to 800 by 2017.
Unfortunately, the perception of Gaelic and GME, in particular, results in the language being regularly undermined by the press, some education authorities and even small sections of the Gaelic community. Everyone must join together and support GME. However, there needs to be further focus on adult learning needs, which should include native speakers who may have lost their Gaelic or who are dependent on a particular location or dialect to function in Gaelic properly. There are so many aspects to this subject that four minutes’ speaking time does not really do it justice.
Before I close, I want to pose the question of whether an independent voice for Gaelic is needed. Bòrd na Gàidhlig is funded by the Scottish Government, but should there not be an independent body overseeing the myriad Gaelic-supporting organisations out there, including Bòrd na Gàidhlig? Fundamentally, it should be a body to which Bòrd na Gàidhlig is accountable, outwith Government.
I am sure that the cross-party group on Gaelic will visit those and many other issues over the course of this session of Parliament. Nevertheless, I welcome the fundamental thrust of the plan, which is a strategy for growth with the core aim of ensuring that, by 2021, the proportion of Gaelic speakers is back up to 2001 levels.
16:35
I commend all those who have spoken in Gaelic. They have brought back fond memories of John Farquhar Munro and, indeed, Alasdair Morrison.
Hugh Henry mentioned Ireland and Donegal. I am, of course, a daughter of Donegal. My mother and her family spoke Gaelic all their lives, and when I go there, they still all speak Gaelic until the English—as they would call us—walk in the door. They do not pronounce it as Gallic or Gaylic, however; they speak Irish.
When the minister mentioned what we could do to encourage more people, including children, to speak Gaelic, I thought about the summer schools. When I go over to Donegal in the summer, the summer schools in Ranafast and Gweedore are absolutely stowed out with children from all over Ireland who are there to learn the Irish. I am not sure whether that provision is available in Scotland, but it would be worth consideration where there is not a critical mass of Gaelic speakers or access to Gaelic.
I have just spoken about my mother, so I will say something about my granddaughter. Annabel Goldie spoke about the early years.
My granddaughter’s mother is Spanish and, at three years old, my granddaughter asked me politely why I do not speak Spanish. She was a fluent Spanish and English speaker and thought that that was quite normal, so she could not understand why I could speak only English. Annabel Goldie and others made a very good point: the earlier people have access to language, the better.
I would also like to put on my Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body hat, given that its Gaelic language plan comes under my remit. The SPCB was among the first public bodies to be invited to submit a Gaelic language plan under the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005, and Bòrd na Gàidhlig approved our plan in May 2008. Public authorities are required to review and update their plans within five years, so our plan is due for renewal by May 2013. The plan forms part of the SPCB’s provision to support the use of a number of languages in the Parliament’s work, as described in our languages policy.
As a result of operating a Gaelic service since 2000 and of the development work that has been achieved since 2008 under the SPCB’s first Gaelic language plan, the SPCB already has an outstanding range of services that are available in or that promote the visibility of Gaelic. Those services enable members to use Gaelic in parliamentary business—through support such as that for today’s debate—and allow the public to communicate with members and engage in the work of the Parliament in Gaelic when they wish to do so.
I believe that, on a day in April next year, there will be a pilot in which security officers are asked to welcome people in Gaelic, which will be interesting. Perhaps we should all do that.
The services offered demonstrate that the SPCB is actively promoting Gaelic across its operations and leading on good practice. The proposal under the SPCB’s new Gaelic language plan is to continue to offer the current services.
Last month, the SPCB approved a draft of the second plan, which is currently available for public consultation. Many issues, concerns and points have been raised today. I call on all members to look at the plan, respond to it and let us know what could be done better. The consultation will end on 4 November. The focus will be on the development of good practice and encouraging the uptake of services. In agreeing the proposed core commitments for the new plan, the SPCB was mindful of the excellent range of services that are already in place to support members and the public to use Gaelic in the Scottish Parliament and the opportunity to promote the better uptake of the current provision. To reflect that, an introductory section has been included in the draft plan that highlights all the ways in which Gaelic is or can be used to access SPCB services and parliamentary business.
With my Conservative hat on now, I very much welcome the short-term working group that the minister mentioned, which will look into the provision of Gaelic teacher posts. We heard the translation of only some of John Finnie’s Gaelic speech, but I acknowledge that he mentioned that issue.
Annabel Goldie’s amendment, which I believe is in my name, seeks to do more than just welcome the increase in funding for Gaelic. It is important that we consider how the funding is spent, whether it is spent in the most effective way and whether it will achieve the aims and objectives that each of us has referred to today. We welcome the spending, but we all know that unless the outcomes and achievements are measured, they could go almost unnoticed.
We fully support the motion and I hope that other parties and their members will support our amendment, which we think is constructive, to ensure that the Gaelic plan does indeed deliver.
16:41
This has been an interesting debate about the Gaelic language plan that Bòrd na Gàidhlig has published as part of the requirements under the 2005 act. I thank Bòrd na Gàidhlig for its considered work. In particular, I thank Arthur Cormack, who has provided so much inspiration to so many. I am sure that many of us share Arthur’s aspirations for the language, but few share his level of passion for or his commitment to Gaelic, or indeed his knowledge of its history and culture.
I firmly believe that if the language is to flourish and not just survive, it is to our children that we must primarily look. Languages are more easily learned in childhood, and Gaelic-medium education seems to me to give young people the opportunity to learn the language in a comprehensive way while, importantly, equipping them with the confidence and ability to use the language. As others have said, children are also likely to be more comfortable with other languages as their education progresses, which is a point that Hugh Henry discussed in his contribution.
For a time, my constituency played host to a Gaelic-medium primary school. In fact, it was the one to which Hanzala Malik referred in his speech, as it was in his ward. The school was located in an ethnically diverse area and it was always a pleasure to visit the school and to see and hear the progress that the children were making. However, the greatest joy was to visit the nursery school that was attached to the primary school—Annabel Goldie and Mary Scanlon might be particularly interested in this point—because there we could meet children, some as young as two or three years old, who at home might have spoken Punjabi, Mandarin, Polish or English, but who at nursery all spoke Gaelic. It was their common language and because they wanted to play and interact with their friends, they picked it up quickly and within a few short weeks thought nothing of it.
The importance of Gaelic-medium education was brought home to me by a constituent who chose to have her child educated at that particular school. Neither my constituent nor her husband has Gaelic, but her parents did. They were of a generation that was actively discouraged from speaking their native tongue at school, so their use of the language did not develop and they did not have the confidence to pass it on to their children; now, however, they take great pride in their grandchild’s fluency. In my view, Bòrd na Gàidhlig is right to prioritise that area. However, as Lewis Macdonald pointed out, it is also important that young people then have the opportunity to use the language in their further education and in their wider life.
I am convinced that another great spur to the stability of Gaelic and its encouragement is the development of BBC Alba. I thought so in government when I announced the initial funding for the channel and I still strongly believe that to be the case. If we take the language seriously, it is important that it is reflected throughout the cultural world with which we engage. Although many of us do not speak Gaelic, I am sure that we all now value the channel and its influence. I understand that the supporters of a certain football team have recently developed a particular interest in BBC Alba. Of course, I mean the supporters of Glasgow City women’s football team, whose UEFA cup away game will be broadcast live tomorrow night. It is worth watching.
Talking of BBC Alba, I congratulate Alasdair Morrison on his four-year tenure as chair of the organisation and I wish Maggie Cunningham well in her new role as Alasdair’s successor.
There have been many interesting speeches in the debate and I have enjoyed listening to them. I apologise to John Finnie that, because of translation difficulties, we heard only the last few words of his speech. John indicated that he has learned Gaelic and is not a native speaker, so I say to him that, although we heard only the end of his speech, the language is so beautiful that it was actually a pleasure just to listen and to hear the enthusiasm that he has brought to learning it.
It occurred to me that although the minister has great fluency in the language, we do not have any native speakers in the Parliament now—we used to have native speakers in Alasdair Morrison and John Farquhar Munro. That tells us a lot about the way in which the language has developed. I hope that, 10 years from now, we will look round the chamber and see many Gaels speaking fluently because they have learned the language from an early age.
Lewis Macdonald made a powerful point about the importance of people being able to use the language in their community, workplace and life. I say constructively that the Scottish Government might like to think about what encouragement it could give to employers in the Gàidhealtachd who want to encourage Gaelic in the workplace, so that we can help to strengthen communities and keep people with the language in their communities. Jean Urquhart is absolutely right to point out that many languages have been lost across Europe and to encourage us to ensure that Gaelic is not also lost.
Hanzala Malik was correct to draw attention to the work that is being done in Glasgow not just on Gaelic but on other languages. At present, more than 100 languages are spoken as a first language by the children in schools in Glasgow. It is a great responsibility for a local authority to have to cope with the demand that that puts on the education system. We must never forget that although those languages must be encouraged, young people need to be supported as they learn to speak Gaelic—sorry, I mean English, although I hope that they will speak Gaelic, too. They need support as they learn to speak English so that they can fit into local communities and begin to make their way in education. That does not come cheaply.
We in the Labour Party think that there is little point in producing a plan that seeks to deliver particular outcomes unless we can measure those outcomes. I was reassured that the bòrd included in its report a section that outlines how it will monitor results. However, to emphasise the importance of the point and the responsibility that the Scottish Government has in that regard, Scottish Labour will support the amendment in the name of Mary Scanlon at decision time this evening.
The Parliament clearly supports the Gaelic language and wishes it to flourish. To misquote the minister, we want it to be used and not lost. I believe that, on that, we can unite.
That brings us to Dr Alasdair Allan, who will wind up the debate. Dr Allan, you have until 5 o’clock.
16:49
Tapadh leibh, Oifigear Riaghlaidh. Chan eil fhios agam dè a’ Ghàidhlig a tha air “filibuster” ach nì mi mo dhìcheall.
Anns an samhradh seo fhèin, bha mi air a’ phlèana eadar Steòrnabhagh agus Glaschu air feasgar ciùin soilleir—bha aon feasgar ciùin soilleir ann am bliadhna-sa—agus bha am plèana thairis air taobh an iar na h-Alba. Bha taobh an iar na h-Alba air fad ri fhaicinn.
Tha cuimhne agam gun tàinig e a-steach orm nach robh ann ach 100 bliadhna bhon a bhiodh a’ mhòr-chuid de dhaoine anns a’ chuid as motha de na sgìrean fon a’ phlèana agam a’ bruidhinn anns a’ Ghàidhlig, anns na h-Eileanan an Iar, an Eilean Sgìtheanach, Muile, Ìle, Colla, Tiriodh, Rois. Bha a’ Ghàidhlig aig cha mhòr a h-uile duine anns na sgìrean sin agus aig a’ chuid mhòr cho fada a-steach air an dùthaich ri Loch Abair, Loch Nis, Cataibh, Bràigh Mharr agus sìos tro Earra-Ghàidheal gu Cinn Tìre agus faisg air Dùn Omhain eadhon.
Fiù ’s ann an Glaschu fhèin, bha na mìltean mòra de Ghàidheil ann bho Innse Gall agus, mar a chuala sinn bho Uisdean Henry, bho Dhùn nan Gall cuideachd.
Dè thachair? Uill, mar a chuala sinn, tha sin furasta a ràdh. Bha a h-uile pàirt den stàit gu follaiseach agus gu tur an aghaidh na Gàidhlig, agus gu sònraichte anns na sgoiltean, far an robh e air a dhèanamh gu math soilleir dhan chloinn nach cuireadh a’ Ghàidhlig biadh air a’ bhòrd. Tha an deasbad seo ag innse, tha mi an dòchas, nach eil Alba—no an luchd-poilitigs ann an Alba—a’ smaoineachadh mar seo anns an latha an-diugh. Agus, bho na rudan a thuirt na buill, bha sin furasta fhaicinn agus a thuigsinn.
Aig an aon àm, tha mi an dòchas gu bheil an deasbad ag innse nach eil sinn den bheachd gu bheil a h-uile rud ceart agus dòigheil mu staid na Gàidhlig. Tha tòrr againn ri dhèanamh fhathast. Tha misneachd a dhìth air cuid de dhaoine aig a bheil a’ Ghàidhlig gus Gàidhlig a chleachdadh. Tha tidsearan a dhìth airson cumail suas leis an iarrtas a tha ann am-measg phàrantan airson foghlam tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig.
Rinn tòrr bhuill puingean gu math feumail mu dheidhinn nan cuspairean sin. Mar eisimpleir, rinn Annabel Goldie puingean gu math feumail mu dheidhinn craoladh, eachdraidh agus tidsearan. Bha mi dìreach an-diugh aig cùrsa sreap a tha ann airson tidsearan a tha ag obair air na sgilean Gàidhlig aca, agus tha an Riaghaltas a’ bruidhinn ris na colaistean cuideachd mu dheidhinn cùrsaichean ùra a stèidheachadh airson oileanaich a tha a’ dol a-steach airson a bhith a’ teagasg tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig.
Rinn Uisdean Henry puingean gu math feumail cuideachd mu dheidhinn na buile mhaith a tha ann bho fhoghlam tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig agus an ceangal a tha ann eadar a’ Ghàidhlig agus an eaconamaidh.
Bha Dàibhidh MacThòmais a’ bruidhinn mu dheidhinn Alba mar dhùthaich trì-chànanach agus thuirt e cuideachd gu bheil a’ Ghàidhlig a’ dèanamh feum dhut nad sheann aois. Chì sinn dè thachras—uill, seansa gum bi daoine eile a’ faicinn dè thachras ma tha a’ Ghàidhlig a’ dèanamh feum sam bith dhan inntinn ann an dòigh mhath ann an seann aois.
Thuirt Niall Bibby gu bheil easan a’coimhead air adhart ris a’ Mhòd ann am Pàislig. Tha mise a’ coimhead air adhart cuideachd; bidh an còisir againn a’ seinn ann.
Rinn Niall Bibby puingean cudromach mu dheidhinn an fheum a tha ann airson fiosrachadh ciamar a bhios an Riaghaltas a’ cur am plana ri chèile. Nochdaidh sin, ach tha mi a’ smaoineachadh gum bi a h-uile duine ag aontachadh gu bheil feum ann airson clachan-mìle air an rathad eadar far a bheil sinn an-dràsta agus a’ bhliadhna 2021, far a bheil amas mòr againn airson na h-àireamhan a bhios a’ bruidhinn a’ chànain.
Rinn Iain Ó Finnaí puingean mun teaghlach aige fhèin, ciamar a bha a’ Ghàidhlig làidir agus ciamar a tha i a-nis, leis a’ ghinealach òg, làidir anns an teaghlach aige fhèin.
Bha Lewis Dòmhnallach a’ bruidhinn mu dheidhinn an teaghlaich aige fhèin cuideachd. Is e teaghalch gu math foghlamaichte a tha ann; is ann às an teaghlach aigesan a thàinig am bàrdachd aig Raibeart Burns tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig. Cuideachd, rinn e puing gu math “inventive”, mar a chanas iad, mu dheidinn a’ cheangail eadar a’ Ghàidhlig agus an tairgse airson CalMac. Seo puing mhath mu dheidhinn cho cudromach ’s a tha a’ Ghàidhlig.
Following is the simultaneous interpretation:
Thank you Presiding Officer—I do not know what the Gaelic is for “filibuster”, but I will do my best.
This summer, I was on the plane between Stornoway and Glasgow on a lovely evening. The plane was flying over the west coast of Scotland—all the coast could be seen—and it occurred to me that it was only 100 years since the majority of people in the areas that the plane was flying over could speak Gaelic, including the Western Isles, Skye, Mull, Islay, Coll, Tiree and Ross-shire, and that it extended to the majority of people in mainland areas, including Lochaber, Inverness, Sutherland, and Braemar, down into Argyll and Kintyre and near Dunoon. Even in Glasgow there were thousands of Gaels from the Outer Hebrides, and some from Donegal, too.
So what happened? As we heard today, it is easy to see that every part of the state was obviously against Gaelic—especially the schools, where it was made clear to the children that speaking Gaelic never put food on the table. The people of Scotland and Scottish politicians do not think that nowadays, as is clear from what members have said today.
However, the debate tells us at the same time that not everything is okay or as it should be with Gaelic, and that there is a lot yet to be done. People require confidence to use the language and we require teachers to keep up with the demand among parents for Gaelic-medium education. Many points were made on those subjects; for example, Annabel Goldie made useful points about broadcasting, history and teachers. I attended a course, which is on-going, for teachers who are working on their Gaelic skills. The Government is looking at the colleges and is establishing new courses for students who wish to teach in Gaelic.
Hugh Henry made useful points about education in Gaelic and the link between Gaelic and the economy. Dave Thompson spoke about Scotland as being a tri-lingual country and about how Gaelic helps people in their old age. There is a chance that other people will look at what happens to see whether Gaelic is of any use for the mind in old age.
Neil Bibby said that he is looking forward to the Royal National Mod in Paisley. I am looking forward to that, too, because our choir will be singing there. He referred to important points about the need for information and how the Government will put the plan together. The plan will appear, but I think that everyone will agree that there is a need for milestones on the road between where we are now and 2021; we have huge ambition on increasing the number of Gaelic speakers by then.
John Finnie made a point about how Gaelic is strong in his family’s younger generation and Lewis Macdonald talked about his family, too. His is a very educated family; indeed, the translation of Robert Burns’s poetry came from his family. He also made inventive points about Gaelic in relation to operating the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services and how important Gaelic is to CalMac.
I thank Dr Allan for his positive comments about my speech. Although I recognise that CalMac and the conditions for procurement are not his responsibility, does he agree that that is a matter worthy of his discussion with the responsible ministers?
Tha mi ag aontachadh leis a sin.
Cuideachd, bha puingean eile sa deasbad agus, ma thà ùine gu leòr agam, tillidh mi dha na buill sin.
Tha mi an dòchas gu bheil an deasbad feumail airson tòrr adhbharan, ach tha mi airson mo thaing a thoirt dhan a h-uile duine a tha air pàirt a ghabhail ann—tron fheasgar tha mi air èisteachd gu furachail ris na puingean a thog buill eile eadar na pàrtaidhean agus thairis air na pàrtaidhean gu lèir. Anns an spiorad sin, tha mi glè dheònach taic a thoirt dhan atharrachadh air a’ ghluasad bho na Tòraidhean. Mar a bha Màiri Scanlon ag ràdh, tha e cudromach gu bheil sinn a’ cumail sùil air ciamar a tha na poileasaidhean seo ag obrachadh a-mach.
Rinn Màiri Scanlon cuideachd puingean inntinneach mu dheidhinn sgoiltean samhraidh agus ciamar a tha iadsan ag obair ann an Èirinn. Ann am fasan, tha rud no dhà den aon seòrsa a’ tachairt ann an Alba. Chunnaic mi rudeigin den aon seòrsa a’ tachairt aig Fèisean nan Gàidheal ann an Carlabhagh anns an sgìre agam fhèin. Mar a tha an t-atharrachadh air a’ ghluasad ag innse, tha e feumail dha-rìribh gu bheil sinn a’ faighneachd fad na tìde dè na poileasaidhean a tha ag obair agus dè na poileasaidhean a tha gun fheum. Tha e cudromach nach eil poileasaidh na Gàidhlig dìreach a’ ciallachadh gu bheil sinn ag ràdh ruinn fhèin, “Is math a rinn thu nach eil a’ Ghàidhlig marbh.” Feumaidh amas pragtaigeach a bhith againn mu na tha sinn airson a dhèanamh leis a’ Ghàidhlig.
Tha an t-amas sin againn. Tha liosta de phrìomachasan Gàidhlig anns a’ phlana far a bheil sinn an an dùil barrachd adhartais fhaicinn. Gun teagamh, is e an fhìrinn gun deach mòran a choileanadh mar-thà ann an saoghal na Gàidhlig ach gu bheil tòrr fhathast ri dhèanamh. Tha e deatamach gu bheil gach neach, coimhearsnachd, ùghdarras agus buidheann ann an Alba a’ tuigsinn gu bheil àite aca anns an obair seo agus gum faodadh na poileasaidhean agus prògraman aca a chur gu mòr ri suidheachadh na Gàidhlig san àm ri teachd.
Bha ball no dhà eile a’ bruidhinn anns an deasbad agus canaidh mi rudeigin mun deidhinn. Bha mi toilichte a chluinntinn Sìne Urchadan is i a’ bruidhinn mu dè cho cudromach ’s a tha foghlam anns na bliadhnaichean aig toiseach na sgoile no ron sgoil. Bha sin a’ tighinn a-steach orm.
Following is the simultaneous interpretation:
I agree with that.
Other points have been made in the debate, which I will come to if I have enough time.
I hope that the debate is useful for many reasons. I would like to thank everyone who has taken part in it—I have listened with great interest to points that my colleagues have made. In cross-party spirit, I am very happy to accept Mary Scanlon’s amendment. As she said, it is important that we keep an eye on how policies work out.
Mary Scanlon also made some interesting points about summer schools and how they work in Ireland. There are one or two things like that happening in Scotland. I saw something similar happening at Fèisean nan Gàidheal in Carloway in my consituency. It is true that we are looking at the policies that are working and those that are not and it is important that the Gaelic policy does not involve just saying to ourselves, “Well done—Gaelic is not dead.” We need to have practical aims for what we will do with Gaelic. We have such aims. We must give priority to Gaelic in the plan and we would like to see more progress being made. It is true that much has already been achieved, but there is a lot still to be done. It is essential that individuals, communities, Scottish local authorities and other bodies recognise that they have a role to play, and that their policies and programmes can have a significant effect in shaping the future of Gaelic.
I would like to mention one or two other members who spoke in the debate. I was happy to hear Jean Urquhart talk about how important pre-school education is.
Will the minister take an intervention?
Sure.
I reiterate what I said in my speech. Does the minister agree that we need to find more resources for education in our schools? If so, where will those resources come from?
Uill, mar a thuirt mi, tha an Riaghaltas seo air am buidseat airson na Gàidhlig a dhìon agus airgead a chur a-steach a Ghlaschu cuideachd. Bha mi toilichte a cluinntinn mu dheidhinn Maxwell Drive ann an òraid a’ bhuill, oir bha mise a’ fuireach ann am Maxwell Drive nuair a bha mi nam oileanach agus canaidh mi gun robh Urdu agus a’ Ghàidhlig air am bruidhinn air an aon sràid. Tha leasan ann an sin airson a h-uile duine. Cuideachd, tha fhios agam gu bheil còmhradh a’ dol eadarainn mu dheidhinn cànanan coimhearsnachd ann an Glaschu agus dè cho cudromach ’s a tha e gu bheil cothroman anns na sgoiltean cànanan eile ionnsachadh cuideachd.
Tha mi ag ràdh seo a-rithist ris a’ ghinealach òg aig a bheil a’ Ghàidhlig: bithibh radaigeach. Na bithibh a’ feitheamh air Bòrd na Gàidhlig no ormsa, ged a bhios sinn gur cuideachadh. Bithibh làn misneachd, bithibh moiteil gu bheil a’ Ghàidhlig agaibh agus gu duine sam bith a tha a’ faighneachd fhathast carson a tha mise agus daoine eile a’ bruidhinn anns a’ Ghàidhlig no carson a tha sinn a’ bodraigeadh Gàidhlig ionnsachadh, chan eil ach aon fhreagairt agam: carson nach biodh? Chan eil ach dusan gnìomhaire mì-riaghailteach cumanta ri ionnsachadh anns a’ Ghàidhlig.
Agus gu duine sam bith a bhios a’ faighneachd carson a tha mi a’ cleachdadh na Gàidhlig an seo an-diugh anns a’ Phàrlamaid, canaidh mi seo: dìreach anns an aon dòigh nach eil cù ga thabhasnn airson na Nollaig a-mhàin, chan eil cànan sam bith ann airson a’ mhòid no airson Bòrd na Gàidhlig no airson planaichean Gàidhlig. Tha cànanan ann airson cleachdadh agus bruidhinn, agus ma tha a’ Ghàidhlig agaibh, bruidhinnibh i.
Following is the simultaneous interpretation:
As I said, this Government has a budget for Gaelic, which it has protected. Money has gone to Glasgow. I was happy to hear the member mention Maxwell Drive. I used to live on Maxwell Drive when I was a student, and I can say that Urdu and Gaelic were spoken on the same street. There is a lesson there for everyone. I know that conversation is going on between the communities in Glasgow and I know how important it is that schools provide the opportunity for children to learn other languages.
I have a message for the young generation who have Gaelic, which is that they should be radical. They should not wait for Bòrd na Gàidhlig or for me, although we will help them. They should be full of confidence and proud that they have Gaelic. To anyone who asks why I or other people speak Gaelic and why we bother to learn it, there is only one answer: “Why wouldn’t we?” There are only 12 irregular rules to learn in Gaelic. To anyone who asks why I am using Gaelic in Parliament today, I say that, just as a dog is not just for Christmas, the Gaelic language is not just for the Mòd, Bòrd na Gàidhlig and Gaelic plans. The language is there to be spoken. If you have the language, speak it.
Before we move to the next item of business, I remind members of this evening’s members’ business debate on motion S4M-04204, in the name of Liam McArthur, on no to nuisance calls. I am sure that as many members as possible would like to stay for that debate and have an input to it.