Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 17 June 2025
17 Jun 2025 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Scottish Languages Bill
A bheil an Leas-Phrìomh Ministear ag aontachadh nach eil e dìreach a’ dèanamh ciall gu bheil daoine no dhà bho àm gu àm ag ràdh nach iad an aghaidh na Gàidhlig ach dìreach gu bheil iad an aghaidh a’ Ghàidhlig fhaicinn?
Following is the simultaneous interpretation:
Does the Deputy First Minister agree that it simply does not make sense that, from time to time, some people say that they are not against Gaelic, only that they are against seeing Gaelic?
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-17966, in the name of Kate Forbes, on the Scottish Languages Bill at stage 3. 17:21
The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic (Kate Forbes)
SNP
’S ann tro ghealladh Bile nan Cànan Albannach ùr a thoirt air adhart a thòisich am pròiseas pàrlamaid seo. Chaidh a chuir an cèill gu follaiseach gur e ar n-...
Douglas Ross (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
The Deputy First Minister has spoken about the investment that comes with the bill. What are her reflections on previous investment in the Gaelic language? I...
Kate Forbes
SNP
Tha an t-iongnadh orm gu bheil am ball a’ faighneachd mu chàraichean is rudan mar sin, gu h-àraidh às dèidh buidsead far a bheil barrachd airgead gu lèir air...
Alasdair Allan (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP)
SNP
A bheil an Leas-Phrìomh Ministear ag aontachadh nach eil e dìreach a’ dèanamh ciall gu bheil daoine no dhà bho àm gu àm ag ràdh nach iad an aghaidh na Gàidhl...
Kate Forbes
SNP
Tha tòrr dhaoine an aghaidh chànanan mar a’ Ghàidhlig agus Albais ach aig a’ cheann thall tha daoine a tha a’ bhòtadh airson nam pàrtaidhean air leth aig a b...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Thank you, Deputy First Minister. Can I just check whether you moved the motion in Gaelic?
Kate Forbes
SNP
I did not, but I will move it now. I move, That the Parliament agrees that the Scottish Languages Bill be passed. 17:30
Miles Briggs (Lothian) (Con)
Con
I start by thanking the many individuals and organisations who have engaged with me on the bill and the Deputy First Minister and her officials for their pos...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I call Michael Marra to open the debate on behalf of Scottish Labour. 17:36
Michael Marra (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
It is now 20 years since the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 was passed. The vital question for us all now is where the Gaelic language will be in 20 yea...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I call Ross Greer to open on behalf of the Scottish Greens. 17:41
Ross Greer (West Scotland) (Green)
Green
I think that we all went into the bill process agreeing about not only the crisis for Gaelic as a living language but its importance to Scotland’s culture, b...
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD)
LD
On occasions such as this, I feel inadequate in that I do not speak the Gaelic language. However, in the past, Liberal Democrat members have been fluent—well...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
We move to the open debate. 17:50
Alasdair Allan (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP)
SNP
Tha mi air leth toilichte am pìos reachdais seo fhaicinn air ar beulaibh an-diugh, còrr beag is fichead bliadhna on a chaidh gabhail ris a’ chiad achd na Gài...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
We move to closing speeches. 17:54
Ross Greer
Green
It is a privilege to follow Dr Alasdair Allan, who has done so much to contribute to Gaelic and Scots. As has already been said, this bill alone will not sa...
Pam Duncan-Glancy (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
I apologise to the Presiding Officer, the Deputy First Minister and others in the chamber for my late arrival to the debate this afternoon. I am pleased to ...
Roz McCall (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
It is a privilege for me to be able to close this afternoon’s debate on the Scottish Language Bill on behalf of the Scottish Conservatives. As I said in the...
The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone)
NPA
I call the Deputy First Minister to wind up the debate. 18:07
Kate Forbes
SNP
Presiding Officer, “’S ged a dh’ fheuch iad ri cur às dhuinn, Chì mo theaghlach cnoc nan linn. ’S ged tha ar cànan leòint’ le strì, San tìr seo bidh i be...