Hansard

Tapadh leibh, Oifigeir-riaghlaidh. Tha mi a’ cur meala naidheachd air Aonghas Dòmhnallach airson an gluasad seo a chur air beulaibh na Pàrlamaid. Tha mi toilichte a bhith a’ comharrachadh deich bliadhna on a thàinig Achd na Gàidhlig (Alba) 2005 gu bith. Bu chòirear beachdachadh air buaidh Achd na Gàidhlig le pròis ach le sùil, cuideachd, air mar a ghabhadh an tuilleadh neartachaidh a thoirt air suidheachadh na Gàidhlig.

Thug an achd dhuinn bunait airson spèis co-ionann ris a’ Bheurla a thoirt don Ghàidhlig. Thug i dhuinn Bòrd na Gàidhlig le dleastanas plana nàiseanta Gàidhlig a dheasachadh, a’ stèidheachadh slighe air adhart don chànan. Tha cead aig a’ bhòrd iarraidh air buidhnean poblach planaichean Gàidhlig a chur an gnìomh. Tha iomadh rud feumail air tachairt ri a linn. Tha an cànan nas follaisiche. Tha na h-ealain Ghàidhlig gan adhartachadh le Alba Chruthachail is eile. Tha an àireamh de dh’inbhich ag ionnsachadh na Gàidhlig air èirigh.

Thug Achd na Gàidhlig buaidh air poileasaidhean an Riaghaltais. Tha Riaghaltas na h-Alba air taic a chumail ri BBC Alba, ged a tha craoladh fhathast fo smachd Pàrlamaid Westminster.

Thàinig ro-innleachd airson foghlam Gàidhlig tro Achd na Gàidhlig. Tha àireamh sgoilearan ann am foghlam tron Ghàidhlig air èirigh, agus tha taic ann bhon Riaghaltas seo airson sgoiltean Gàidhlig fa leth. Bu chòirear a bhith dòchasach mun àm ri teachd an dèidh toradh a’ chunntais-shluaigh mu dheireadh, agus bidh cothrom eile againn rùn Achd na Gàidhlig a neartachadh tro Bhile an Fhoghlaim (Alba). Tha sinn mothachail air an fhianais a nochd ann am freagairtean do Chomataidh an Fhoghlaim agus a’ Chultair, agus tha e follaiseach gu bheil cuid a dh’eòlaichean air a’ Ghàidhlig den bheachd nach eil am bile a’ dol fada gu leòr. Tha cuid den bharail gum feum còir laghail shoilleir a bhith ann air foghlam tron Ghàidhlig, nuair a tha iarrtas reusanta ann air a shon—cho math ri stiùireadh reachdail—ma tha foghlam na Gàidhlig gu bhith ga neartachadh agus ga leudachadh. Bhiodh sin a rèir gheallaidhean a thug sinn seachad agus bu chòir dhuinn a h-uile oidhirp a dhèanamh na geallaidhean sin a choileanadh.

Tha mi an dòchas gun èist Comataidh an Fhoghlaim agus a’ Chultair gu cùramach ris na beachdan a tha air nochdadh agus gum bi am ministear deònach gabhail ri atharrachaidhean sa bhile, gus an dèanar cinnteach gun gabh iarrtasan phàrantan airson foghlam Gàidhlig a choileanadh. Chan e seo an t-àm airson deasbad mu dheidhinn sin, ach chan ann tric a tha laghan gan cruthachadh a dh’fhaodadh suidheachadh na Gàidhlig a chuideachadh.

Aig a’ cheann thall, bheireadh am bile ùr cothrom dhuinn buaidh thaiceil a thoirt air mar a tha sinn a’ coileanadh amasan Achd na Gàidhlig.

Mu dheireadh, tha e iomchaidh taing a thoirt dhan a h-uile duine a tha an sàs gu dealasach a’ brosnachadh agus a’ leasachadh na Gàidhlig, ga teagasg agus ga cleachdadh nan obair làitheil agus nan coimhearsnachdan.

Following is the simultaneous interpretation:

I congratulate Angus MacDonald on bringing the motion before Parliament. I am happy that we are marking 10 years since the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 was enacted. We should consider the effect of the act with pride, but with an eye to what still needs to be done to strengthen the position of Gaelic.

The act gave us the basis for promoting Gaelic and for giving it the same respect as English. It gave us Bòrd na Gàidhlig, which has a duty to prepare a national Gaelic language plan that establishes a way forward for the language. The board has the ability to ask public bodies to deliver Gaelic language plans. Many beneficial things have happened as a result of it. The language is more visible, the Gaelic arts are being promoted by Creative Scotland and the number of adults who are learning the language has increased.

The 2005 act has influenced the Government’s policies. The Scottish Government has supported BBC Alba, even although broadcasting is reserved to the Westminster Parliament.

A strategy for Gaelic education resulted from the 2005 act. The number of pupils in Gaelic-medium education has increased and there is support from the Government for stand-alone Gaelic schools. We should be hopeful for the future, following the results of the last census. We will have an additional opportunity to strengthen the spirit of the act through the Education (Scotland) Bill. Being mindful of the evidence that has been forthcoming in submissions to the Education and Culture Committee, I say that it is clear that some people who are knowledgeable about matters of Gaelic are of the opinion that the bill does not go far enough. Some are of the view that there must be a legal right to Gaelic education when reasonable demand has been demonstrated, as well as statutory guidance if Gaelic education is to be strengthened and expanded. That would be in line with promises that have been made, so we should strive to fulfil those promises.

I hope that the Education and Culture Committee will carefully note the views that have come forward and that the minister would be willing to consider amendments to the bill that would ensure that parental demand for Gaelic education is met. Now is not the time for a debate on matter, but it is not often that legislation is prepared that could help to strengthen Gaelic.

In the final analysis, the new bill gives us an opportunity to have a positive influence on how we deliver the aspirations of the 2005 act.

Finally, it is appropriate to thank all those who diligently promote and develop Gaelic, those who teach it and those who use it in their daily work and in their communities.