Committee
Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee, 20 Oct 1999
20 Oct 1999 · S1 · Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee
Item of business
Gaelic
Mr Donald Martin (Director of Community Development, Comunn na Gàidhlig):
Watch on SPTV
Tapa leibh. Tha sinne a' toirt sùil air turasachd cultarail agus 's e seo raon far nach eil mòran leasaichidhean air a bhith suas chun an seo. Tha sinn a' smaoineachadh gur e gnìomhachas gu math cudromach a tha ann an seo agus tha eisimpleirean againn air mar a tha leasaichidhean air an dèanamh anns an raon seo ann an Eirinn agus anns a' Chuimrigh. Tha sinn air tòiseach tòiseachaidh a dhèanamh le pròiseact anns na h-Eileanan an Iar far a bheil sinn a' dèanamh measadh air na seirbheisean 's na goireasan a th' againn an-dràsda agus an uair sin dol a thaghadh ceithir àitichean agus bhiodh sinn an dòchas a-mach as na cèithir àitichean sin gum biodh a dhà dhiubh ann an Iomairt aig an Oir, an Iomairt mu na chuala sibh an-diugh sa mhadainn. Tha seo a' ciallachadh às na h-àitichean sin gum bi cothroman cosnaidh ann, chan ann a-mhàin do dhaoine a tha a' toirt seachad seirbheisean mar àitichean-fuirich, àitichean-bidhe; tha ionadan turasachd ann far a bheil eachdraidh ionadail an àite, ginealach agus spòrs—a h-uile càil co-cheangailte ri air gnìomhachas turasachd.
In the same item of business
The Convener:
SNP
The first part of the session will be a discussion with the organisations responsible for the promotion and development of the Gaelic language. For the purpo...
Allan Campbell (Chief Executive, Comunn na Gàidhlig):
Thank you. Before I start, I should say that my colleague, Donald Martin, is also with me, sitting next to the overhead projector. Donald and I are members o...
Following is the simultaneous interpretation:
I welcome the committee to the Highlands. Thank you for allowing us to make our presentations in Gaelic. It demonstrates the position that you desire to give...
The Convener:
SNP
Thank you.
Mr Lachlan Dick (University of the Highlands and Islands Development Co-ordinator, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig):
Gu foirmeal, neach-cathraich, am faodainn taing a thoirt dhuibh fhèin agus don Chomataidh agaibh airson na cothrom seo a thoirt dhuinn.An toiseach, beagan mu...
Following is the simultaneous interpretation:
I thank the committee for this opportunity to speak. First, I will tell a little about the history of the college. Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, a partner institution w...
Mr Calum Robertson (Head of Corporate Planning, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig):
Gnìomhan taice.A bharrachd air na cùrsaichean foghlaim, tha a' Cholaisde an sàs ann an iomadh nì eile chum feumalachdan coimhearsnachd na Gàidhlig a choilion...
Following is the simultaneous interpretation:
In addition to its academic activities, the college undertakes a range of other activities designed to meet the needs of the Gaelic community: Leirsinn, the ...
Mr Dick:
Agus ma dh'fhaodas mise, neach-cathraich, facal a ràdh mu dheidhinn nan nithean a tha ann an amhairc na Colaisde an dà chuid sa gheàrr agus an eadar-ama.Bu m...
Following is the simultaneous interpretation:
In the short to medium term, the college—in partnership with other organisations—has ambitions to progress a number of further projects that would enhance it...
Mr Calum Robertson:
Tha mi 'n dòchas gun tug siud dealbh air na tha Sabhal Mòr Ostaig ris is tha a' buntainn ri dleasdanas na Comataidh agaibh. O chionn greis a nis, tha an Riag...
Following is the simultaneous interpretation:
I hope that the foregoing has given an indication of Sabhal Mòr Ostaig's contribution to the committee's spheres of interest. Central and local government ha...
The Convener:
SNP
In a moment I will open up the discussion for questions, but I want to start with some of the economic links that have been mentioned. The Sabhal Mòr Ostaig ...
Mr Dick:
Tha mi smaoineachadh gur e a' chiad rud a bhiomaid a' coimhead air a shon gu suidheadh leasachadh sam bith gu comhfhurtail ri prìomh amasan na Colaisde. 'S e...
Following is the simultaneous interpretation:
Our first objective would be that whether any development would sit comfortably with the college's main aims. It is an academic college, and we hope to creat...
The Convener:
SNP
Thank you. Allan, I know that in the debate about the development of language, there has been an aspiration in the wider Gaelic community for an economic dev...
Allan Campbell:
Cha tàinig e gu ìre fhathast—tha sinn ga fhaicinn mar amas a tha uamhasach cudromach. 'S e an rud a tha mi smaoineachadh a dh'fheumta a thuigsinn a tha fìor ...
Following is the simultaneous interpretation:
It has not come to fruition yet, but we see it as a very important aim. We must understand that 50 years ago there were far more Gaelic speakers than there a...
Mr Donald Martin (Director of Community Development, Comunn na Gàidhlig):
Tapa leibh. Tha sinne a' toirt sùil air turasachd cultarail agus 's e seo raon far nach eil mòran leasaichidhean air a bhith suas chun an seo. Tha sinn a' sm...
Following is the simultaneous interpretation:
We are looking at culture tourism, an area where there have been few developments until now. However, it is a very important industry—we have the example of ...
Allan Campbell:
Aon rud eile neach-cathraich a dh'iarrainn chur ris an seo, gu bheil e doirbh dha daoine fhathast a thuigsinn dè tha ann an eaconamaidh na Gàidhlig. Cha robh...
Following is the simultaneous interpretation:
It is difficult for people to understand what a Gaelic economy is. People never thought that Gaelic had any relation to the economy; they thought that it was...
George Lyon:
LD
I would like to explore in more depth how we might increase the number of Gaelic speakers. I want to make a comparison with Europe, where I have spent much t...
Allan Campbell:
Bheir mise a' chiad tarraing air an seo agus tha mi 'n dòchas gun tig Lachie Dick staigh an uair sin. A' chiad rud, aig a' chunntas sluaigh mu dheireadh, bha...
Following is the simultaneous interpretation:
I will respond first, and then Lachlan Dick will offer his thoughts. The last census showed that there were fewer than 70,000 Gaelic speakers. It was obvious...
Mr Dick:
Chan eil dà dhoigh nach eil an dùthaich seo gu math deireileach a thaobh a bhith a' togail an dàrna no an treas cànain tacsa ri dùthchannan eile. Tha mi duil...
Following is the simultaneous interpretation:
In comparison with other European countries, we in this country are very backward when it comes to having a second or third language. I regret that I do not ...
George Lyon:
LD
We should consider the situation in the north of Scotland and compare it with the situation in Wales, where the Welsh language is spoken extensively througho...
Mr Dick:
Chan eil fhios 'am a bheil buaidh aige gur e coimhearsnachd gu math sgapte a tha niste ann a thaobh na Gàidhlig air sgàth 's gur e coimhearsnachdan eileanach...
Following is the simultaneous interpretation:
I am not sure exactly why the difference exists. Communities of Gaelic speakers are scattered over a wide area and a number of island communities and Wales d...