Hansard

Tha mi a’ cur fàilte air a’ chothrom gus an deasbad seo fhosgladh a thaobh a’ ghluasaid taic a chur ri prionnsapalan farsaing Bile nan Cànan Albannach.

Do mhòran chan e dìreach cùis phoblach a th’ ann an cànan ach nì a tha aig cridhe na coimhearsnachd aca—agus tha sin fìor dhomh-sa. Air sgàth sin ’s e urram a th’ ann dhomh a bhith a’ fosgladh an deasbaid seo.

Bu mhath leam taing a thoirt do Chomataidh Foghlam, Clann agus Òigridh airson mar a bheachdaich iad ann an dòigh thuigseach, thaiceil air a’ chùis seo. Mo thaing cuideachd do Chomataidh nan Cumhachdan Tiomnaichte agus Ath-leasachadh an Lagha agus Comataidh an Ionmhais agus na Rianachd Poblaich airson an cuid eòlais is breithneachadh. Tha mi cuideachd gu mòr an comain nan daoine a chuir seachad ùine gus fianais a thoirt seachad.

Air a’ mhìos seo, tha Comunn na Gàidhlig, a’ bhuidheann-leasachaidh Ghàidhlig, a’ comharrachadh an dà fhicheadamh ceann-bliadhna aca. Nuair a chaidh Comunn na Gàidhlig a stèidheachadh nochd dìcheall am pailteas bho am measg choimhearsnachdan na Gàidhlig.

’S ann mar thoradh air na rinneadh an uair sin a thàinig piseach air na seirbheisean a bha rim faotainn do choimhearsnachdan Gàidhlig. Mar eisimpleir, tha seirbheis craolaidh na Gàidhlig againn, tha foghlam tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig againn, ealain agus foillseachadh na Gàidhlig.

Tha na roinnean sin a’ cur ri ar beatha chultarail, agus chithear a’ bhuaidh aca gu h-eadar-nàiseanta le iomadh buil is buannachd a’ tighinn bho innleachd nan Gàidheal. Feumaidh sinn cuimhneachadh air an fheadhainn a chuir na pròiseactan seo air chois. Gun teagamh, rinn iad diofar, chaidh adhartas a dhèanamh agus thug an Riaghaltas taic seachad. Tha sinn fhathast a’ cur ris an dìleib sin.

Às dèidh stèidheachadh Pàrlamaid na h-Alba chunnacas tuilleadh ìmpidh is adhartais. Bha coimhearsnachdan ag iarraidh inbhe thèarainte agus an ceann ùine chuir a’ Phàrlamaid seo aonta ri Achd na Gàidhlig (Alba) 2005.

Chaidh Bòrd na Gàidhlig a stèidheachadh, dh’ullaich ùghdarrasan poblach planaichean Gàidhlig, agus thòisich soidhnichean Gàidhlig a’ nochdadh air prìomh rathaidean agus toglaichean. Chaidh seanail Gàidhlig a stèidheachadh ann an 2008. Bho 2006 thòisicheadh air sgoiltean Gàidhlig fa leth a stèidheachadh.

Bha na h-iarrtasan a thàinig bho choimhearsnachdan na Gàidhlig cudromach. Cuideachd, bha a’ Phàrlamaid fhèin cudromach do thòrr de na leasachaidhean seo agus bha an taic a chuir a h-uile pàrtaidh ris a’ chànan na chuideachadh mòr. Rinn na rudan seo uile diofar.

Ged a tha adhartas ann, tha fios gu bheil dùbhlain romhainn fhathast. Tha tuilleadh adhartais a dhìth sna sgoiltean, ann an sgìrean le gainnead sluaigh, agus a thaobh nan dùbhlan eaconamach is bun-structair.

’S e an obair a tha romhainn atharraichean susbainteach a chur an sàs às dèidh bhliadhnaichean de mhilleadh agus crìonadh. Chan eil sinn gar mealladh fhèin a thaobh na bhios a dhìth. Chan eil sgleò air ar lèirsinn nuair a thig e gu fìrinn an t-suidheachaidh, agus chan eil sinn airson gun lean cùisean dìreach mar a tha iad.

Bu mhath leam facal no dhà a ràdh mu Albais a-nis. An t-seachdain a chaidh, chaidh duaisean na h-Albais a chumail ann an Cumnag ann an Siorrachd Àir an Ear. Ma bheirear sùil air na seòrsaichean duaise, na daoine a chaidh a mholadh agus an luchd-taice, tha e’ toirt misneachd dhuinn. Tha e a’ toirt dealbh air roinn na h-Albais a tha làn spionnaidh is gnìomh agus a’ soirbheachadh, far a bheil daoine bho raointean leithid foghlam, foillseachadh agus na h-ealain air an riochdachadh.

Tha diofar bhuidhnean a’ dèanamh obair ionmholta ann a bhith a’ cur taic ri Albais. Thar nam bliadhnaichean mu dheireadh tha Riaghaltas na h-Alba air taic a thoirt do bhuidhnean leithid an Scots Language Centre, Scots Hoose, Dictionaries of the Scots Language, Doric radio agus dhan chùrsa aig an Oilthigh Fhosgailte agus Foghlam Alba a tha a’ cuideachadh thidsearan le bhith ag ionnsachadh Albais.

Seo a’ chiad turas a tha Albais air a bhith mar phàirt de reachdas sa Phàrlamaid seo. Le sin, tha sinn a’ togail air obair nam buidhnean Albais agus air soirbheachas nan sgrìobhadairean, seinneadairean agus tidsearan Albais air a bheil fianais gu leòr aig duaisean na h-Albais.

Tha sinn a’ toirt Bile nan Cànan Albannach air adhart gus structairean a stèidheachadh airson barrachd adhartais a dhèanamh. Leis an tuigse nach toir am bile fhèin freagairt dhuinn airson gach ceist. Bidh am bile a’ cur taic ri iomairtean a tha gan cur an sàs aig ìre an Riaghaltais, nan ùghdarrasan poblach agus na coimhearsnachd.

Tha feum orra uile agus gu tric thig adhartas mar thoradh air coimhearsnachdan is ùghdarrasan a bhith ag obair còmhla gus structairean cudromach a chur air bhonn a bheir cothrom do dhaoine na h-iomairtean seo a chur an sàs. Tha eisimpleirean gu leòr againn de dh’ iomairtean stèidhichte is ùr, leithid Sabhal Mòr Ostaig a chomharraich an leth-cheudamh ceann-bliadhna aige an-uiridh. An uair sin tha sinn a’ dèanamh fiughair ri togalach ùr Chnoc Soilleir a bhith deiseil an-ath-bhliadhna ann an Uibhist a Deas.

Bu mhath leam taing a thoirt dhan chomataidh. Thathar a’ cur fàilte air grunn phuingean ann an aithisg na comataidh. Mar a tha iad a’ bruidhinn air èiginn an t-suidheachaidh agus air mar a dh’fheumar barrachd a dhèanamh. Cuideachd, bha a’ chomataidh ceart ann a bhith a’ cur cuideam air com-pàirt nan coimhearsnachdan, taic do dh’fhoghlam tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig, ionnsachadh taobh a-muigh na sgoile, foghlam Gàidhlig adhartach agus àrd-ìre, tidsearan Gàidhlig, agus prìomhachasan is foghlam Albais.

Bidh aig ùghdarrasan ionadail aig a bheil foghlam tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig is planaichean Gàidhlig ri planaichean coileanaidh ullachadh airson foghlam Gàidhlig.

Gu cudromach, stèidhichidh am bile frèam gus sgìrean cànain sònraichte a chomharrachadh, agus seo na mheadhan cumhachdach gus dleastanasan ùra a chur air buidhnean poblach airson a bhith a’ neartachadh cor a’ chànain.

Tha fios agam gu bheil cuid ann a tha ag ràdh nach eil am bile làidir gu leòr. Tha mi air coinneachadh ri buill Pàrlamaid bho na pàrtaidhean eile gus dearbhadh gu bheil mi deònach obrachadh còmhla riutha air atharraichean aig ìre a dhà. Gu dearbh, tha an Riaghaltas an dùil atharraichean a chur air adhart gus leudachadh air na còraichean is cothroman a bhios aig daoine a tha a’ fuireach ann an sgìrean cànain sònraichte.

Tha mi gu h-àraidh a’ beachdachadh air roghainnean a thaobh mar a dh’fhaodadh barrachd pàirt a bhith aig coimhearsnachdan ann a bhith a’ comharrachadh sgìrean cànain sònraichte. Bu mhath leam oifigearan leasachaidh Gàidhlig fhaicinn anns gach sgìre cànain shònraichte, a bhiodh ag obair gus taic a chumail ri coimhearsnachdan ann an iomadh dòigh, gus àrdachadh a thoirt air àireamhan luchd-labhairt na Gàidhlig agus gus seirbheisean ùra a chur air dòigh dhan a h-uile duine—eadar a’ chlann as òige agus na daoine as sine.

Tha mi cuideachd a’ beachdachadh air mar a ghabhas còir a stèidheachadh airson sgoiltean Gàidhlig fa leth, agus am bu chòir iomradh a bhith air sin anns a’ bhile.

’S e a’ chiad chomharra a bhios againn air soirbheachadh, ma bhios cothrom aig cuideigin, a tha fileanta ann an Gàidhlig an-dràsta, a’ bheatha air fad aca a chur seachad tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig san sgìre ionadail aca. An dàrna comharra, ma bhios sinn, aig àm an ath chunntais-shluaigh, air stad a chur air a’ chrìonadh a tha air tighinn air àireamhan luchd-labhairt na Gàidhlig sna sgìrean traidiseanta—na h-Eileanan an Iar, an t-Eilean Sgitheanach agus coimhearsnachdan eile sna h-eileanan agus air a’ chosta.

Cha toir am bile fhèin fuasgladh dhuinn airson a h-uile rud. Ach, bheir e stiùireadh dhan obair a nì buidhnean poblach na h-Alba, do dh’fhoghlam is ionnsachadh na Gàidhlig is na h-Albais agus do dh’obair is iomairtean coimhearsnachd.

Tha mi a’ cur fàilte air an taic a fhuair am bile thuige seo. Tha mi a’ coimhead air adhart ri bhith a’ cluinntinn bheachdan dhaoine agus bu mhath leam moladh do na buill taic a chur ri prionnsapalan farsaing Bile nan Cànan Albannach.

Tha mi a’ cur gluasad air adhart,

Gun cuir a’ Phàrlamaid aonta ri prionnsapalan farsaing Bile nan Cànan Albannach.

Following is the simultaneous interpretation:

I welcome the opportunity to open the debate in favour of the motion to support the general principles of the Scottish Languages Bill. For many people, language is not just a matter of public business; it is a matter that is at the heart of their community. I count myself among that number and, for that reason, I consider it an honour and a privilege to open the debate.

I thank the Education, Children and Young People Committee for the thoughtful and supportive way in which it has considered the matter in front of it. I also thank the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee and the Finance and Public Administration Committee for their interest and expertise. I am grateful, too, to those who took the time to submit evidence.

This month, the Gaelic development body Comunn na Gàidhlig is celebrating its 40th anniversary. When it was established, there was a burst of activity from the Gaelic community. It was as a result of that activity that some improvements were made to the services available to the community. For example, we have a Gaelic broadcasting service, a Gaelic-medium education sector, and Gaelic arts and publishing. Those sectors enrich our cultural life and have international reach. We could add that they are punching above their weight. We must be mindful of those who set those projects in motion. There is no doubt that they made a difference. Progress was made and the Government provided support. We are still building on that legacy.

When the Scottish Parliament was established, there was evidence of further welcome pressure and progress. There was a demand from the community for secure status. In time, this Parliament passed the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005, Bòrd na Gàidhlig was established, public authority Gaelic plans were produced and we began seeing Gaelic signage on major roads and buildings. Stand-alone Gaelic schools began to emerge from 2006 and, in 2008, a Gaelic television channel was established. The demand from the speaker community was important. In addition, this Parliament played an important role in many of those developments, with support from all parties a welcome feature of that. All those things made a difference.

Progress must still be made in schools and in areas of low population or with economic and infrastructural challenges. Our task is to effect significant change after a long period of damage, neglect and decline. [Interpretation should read: Our task is to effect significant change after a long period of damage and decline.] There is no complacency about that, no rose-tinted specs, no burying heads in the sand and no wish to settle for the status quo.

I turn to the subject of Scots. Last week, the Scots language awards were held at Cumnock in East Ayrshire. The list of the award categories, nominees and sponsors is impressive and provides a picture of a lively, thriving and active Scots sector, where education, publishing and the arts are all represented.

A number of bodies are doing excellent work in supporting the Scots language. In recent years, the Scottish Government has been able to support bodies such as the Scots Language Centre, Scots Hoose, the Dictionaries of the Scots Language, Doric radio and the Open University and Education Scotland course that supports teachers with their Scots learning.

This is the first time that Scots has been included in legislation in this Parliament. In doing that, we are building on the work of Scots bodies and on the example that has been set by Scots writers, singers and teachers at the Scots language awards.

We are taking the bill forward now in order to put in place structures that will bring further progress. We are aware that the bill is not, in itself, the whole solution. It will sit alongside the growing package of measures and interventions operating at Government, public authority and community level. All those are needed because progress is often a combination of communities acting and authorities putting important structures in place to make things possible.

One example of the old and the new is that Sabhal Mòr Ostaig celebrated its 50th anniversary last year while, at the same time, we look forward to the completion of the Cnoc Soillier building in South Uist next year.

I thank the Education, Children and Young People Committee. There are a number of points in the committee report that are particularly welcome. It has an emphasis on urgency and says that more needs to be done. The committee also—rightly—focuses on community involvement, support for Gaelic-medium education, out-of-school learning, Gaelic further and higher education, Gaelic teachers, and Scots priorities in education.

Local authorities with Gaelic-medium education and Gaelic language plans will be required to prepare Gaelic education delivery plans. Most important, the bill will introduce a framework to designate areas of linguistic significance, which will put new responsibilities on public bodies to strengthen the language.

I am aware that there are those who say that the bill does not go far enough. I have met MSPs from other parties to demonstrate my willingness to work with them on amendments at stage 2. Indeed, the Government also intends to lodge amendments to strengthen the rights and opportunities of people living in areas of linguistic significance. In particular, I am considering options to increase community involvement in the designation process for areas of linguistic significance. I would like to see Gaelic development officers in each area of linguistic significance who are tasked with supporting the community in many ways to increase the number of Gaelic speakers and secure new services for everyone, from infants to the elderly.

I am also considering how to secure a right to stand-alone Gaelic-medium schools and whether that should feature in the bill. The first mark of success will be if somebody who has Gaelic fluency today can live their whole life solely in Gaelic medium in their local area. The second mark of success will be if, at the next census, we have reversed the tide of declining numbers of speakers in the Gaelic heartlands—the Western Isles, Skye and other coastal and island communities.

The bill will not solve everything by itself, but it will shape the work of Scottish public authorities, of Gaelic and Scots education and learning, and of community activity. I welcome the support that the bill has received so far and I look forward to hearing members’ contributions to the debate. I commend to members the motion to support the general principles of the Scottish Languages Bill.

I move,

That the Parliament agrees to the general principles of the Scottish Languages Bill.