Chamber
Plenary, 02 Mar 2000
02 Mar 2000 · S1 · Plenary
Item of business
Gaelic
My daughter, Iona, is two years old today. My father, the Reverend Roddy Macdonald—"the other Roddy"—would have been proud of her. As a Gaelic poet and scholar, and as a minister in the Church of Scotland, he would have been proud also to hear a debate about Gaelic in the Parliament of Scotland, in this building, today.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Sir David Steel):
NPA
The next item of business is a debate on motion S1M.607, in the name of Alasdair Morrison, on Gaelic, and on an amendment to that motion. I shall hand over t...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Mr George Reid):
SNP
While the galleries are clearing, I shall make my announcements first in English, as this is a bilingual debate. As members are aware, a simultaneous interpr...
Following is the simultaneous interpretation:
SNP
Order, order. Welcome to the first Gaelic debate in the Scottish Parliament for 700 years. I call Alasdair Morrison to open the debate.
The Deputy Minister for Highlands and Islands and Gaelic (Mr Alasdair Morrison):
Lab
Ceann Comhairle, 's ann le uaill, iomagain agus beagan de dh'irisleachd a tha mi a' fosgladh a' chòmhraidh seo an-diugh. 'S e seo latha cho sònraichte 's a b...
Following is the simultaneous interpretation:
Lab
It is with a mixture of pride, trepidation and humility that I open this dialogue today. This is a unique day in the annals of Gaelic, as for the first time ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
Tapa leibh a Mhaighistir Mhoireasdain agus beannachdan bho Phàrlamaid na h-Alba.
Following is the simultaneous interpretation:
SNP
Thank you, Mr Morrison, and greetings to you from the Scottish Parliament.
The member continued in English.
SNP
The next business is in English. I shall therefore take it in English. Before we move on, I advise members that Mr Brian Monteith has chosen to revise slight...
Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con):
Con
I would like to thank the Presiding Officer for allowing me to replace my amendment at short notice. I have submitted a new one so that the Conservatives can...
Mr John Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD):
LD
Chan eil mi a' tuigsinn facal a tha an duine còir a' cantainn. Carson nach eil sinn a' faighinn eadar-theangachaidh ann an Gàidhlig bhon tha e a' bruidhinn a...
Following is the simultaneous interpretation:
LD
I do not understand a word that this kind man is saying. Why do we not have a Gaelic translation of what he is saying?
Mr Monteith:
Con
I presume that that was a point of order rather than an intervention.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Patricia Ferguson):
Lab
Yes—in which case it was out of order. Given Mr Munro's previous participation in debates, it is safe to assume that he can understand Mr Monteith.
Mr Monteith:
Con
It has often been said that what I say is unintelligible, but that is not normally because no translation is available.I want to concentrate mainly on Gaelic...
Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
A Chinn Suidhe.Feumaidh mi innse dhuibh aig an tòiseach gur e fear stiùiridh de chompanaidh telebhisean Gàidhlig beag a th' annam.Bidh sinne a' cur taice ris...
Following is the simultaneous interpretation:
SNP
I should declare an interest, as I am the director of a small Gaelic television company.The SNP will support the Executive and oppose the amendment lodged by...
Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab):
Lab
The member might be interested to know that Gaelic was last spoken in the Scottish Parliament in 1307.
Michael Russell:
SNP
Uill, seo a' chiad deasbad againn anns a' Ghàidhlig bho choinnich a' Phàrlamaid—no pàirt Pàrlamaid—ann an Airde a' Chatain ann an Earra Ghàidheal ann an trì ...
Following is the simultaneous interpretation:
SNP
Well, I think that this is the first debate in Gaelic since the Parliament, or part of it, met in Ardchattan, Argyll in 1309. King Robert the Bruce was in yo...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Patricia Ferguson):
Lab
I call John Farquhar Munro to open for the Liberal Democrats.
Mr John Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD):
LD
Feasgar math, neach-cathraich. Tha mi air leth toilichte a bhith nam phàirt dhen deasbad seo am Pàrlamaid na h-Alba. 'S e latha sònraichte tha seo, chan ann ...
Tha Tok Pisin aig nas lugha na leth-cheud mìle neach (aon sa cheud dhen mhòr-shluaigh):
ach 's e sin a' phriomh chànan a th' aca a' riaghladh na dùthcha agus ann an saoghal Malairt. Leasan ann a-sin dhuinn uile. San t-suidheachadh sin, bhiodh fo...
Following is the simultaneous interpretation:
Good afternoon, Presiding Officer and friends. I am very pleased to be taking part in this debate. This is a very special day, not only for our Gaelic langua...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
Lab
We now move to the open part of the debate. Members will have four minutes for their speeches; they should try to stick to the timetable so that we can accom...
Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab):
Lab
Tha mo nighean, Iona, dà bhliadhna an-diugh. Bhiodh m' athair, an t-Urramach Ruairidh Dòmhnallach—"Ruairidh eile"—moiteil aisde.Mar bhàrd agus sgoilear Gàidh...
Following is the simultaneous interpretation:
Lab
My daughter, Iona, is two years old today. My father, the Reverend Roddy Macdonald—"the other Roddy"—would have been proud of her. As a Gaelic poet and schol...
The member continued in English.
Lab
I belong to the generation in between. When my father learned to speak English at a primary school in North Uist, Gaelic speakers could still be found as far...
Dr Winnie Ewing (Highlands and Islands) (SNP):
SNP
Tha mi uamhasach toilichte agus pròiseil a bhith an seo an-diugh ann am Pàrlamaid na h-Alba. Alba—an tìr is àlainne san Roinn Eòrpa. Gàidhlig—cànan Gàradh Ed...
Following is the simultaneous interpretation:
SNP
I am happy and proud to be here today in the Scottish Parliament. Gaelic is the language of Eden. I am sorry that I am not yet fluent in Gaelic. I hope to be...
Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab):
Lab
Mòran taing. Chan eil mòran Gàidhlig agam, ach tha mi glè mhòr as a' chànan aig na daoine 'on tàinig mi. Chan urrainn dhomh ach mo thaic a thoirt dhan Ghàidh...