Chamber
Plenary, 06 Mar 2003
06 Mar 2003 · S1 · Plenary
Item of business
Gaelic Language (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
I gather that I was showing up on the Presiding Officer's screen as Alex Neil. That is truly terrifying for all concerned.
This could be a special day for the Parliament, whose reputation has been battered and bruised in the Highlands and Islands, as it has across Scotland. However, with this emotive and symbolic legislation the Parliament can send out a very strong message. It is not every day that we get to kick-start the process of saving a national language.
I pay tribute to Mike Russell for the work that he has put into the bill and for his speech today. He said two things of immense importance. First, he said that the bill is achievable. This measure has not been introduced just to fill time in a debating chamber at the fag end of a session of Parliament. It is an opportunity to revitalise the Gaelic language and to pass legislation. If members of the Parliament want to pass the bill, that will happen.
Secondly, Mike Russell's speech embodied the consensual approach that is essential to this issue. After all, the Parliament was supposed to be about consensus. Mr Russell mentioned that the bill or similar measures were promised in the manifestos of the Liberal Democrats, the Labour party and the SNP. We can work together to make this happen.
In that context, Alasdair Morrison's speech was particularly depressing. His inability to rise to the occasion never fails to surprise me. We can all disagree with aspects of the bill, but let us do so with dignity rather than with a sneer. Mr Morrison accused Mike Russell of introducing the bill late in the day. Perhaps he would like to reflect on why it was left to Mike Russell to do that, given that when he was the minister responsible for Gaelic he had the opportunity to introduce precisely such a bill—an opportunity that he chose to let pass.
The Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport identified a number of problems with the bill. He asks some legitimate questions, but the problems with the bill are by no means insuperable. He made the point, which other members have made, that there is confusion about whether equal status should apply throughout Scotland or, as in the bill, only in certain areas of Scotland. The minister disagrees with the committee—it is his right to do so—but the logic of that is that he supports the original bill. I have to say that I do not really care that much which way the bill goes, as long as we get the Parliament to vote to put the bill through.
This could be a special day for the Parliament, whose reputation has been battered and bruised in the Highlands and Islands, as it has across Scotland. However, with this emotive and symbolic legislation the Parliament can send out a very strong message. It is not every day that we get to kick-start the process of saving a national language.
I pay tribute to Mike Russell for the work that he has put into the bill and for his speech today. He said two things of immense importance. First, he said that the bill is achievable. This measure has not been introduced just to fill time in a debating chamber at the fag end of a session of Parliament. It is an opportunity to revitalise the Gaelic language and to pass legislation. If members of the Parliament want to pass the bill, that will happen.
Secondly, Mike Russell's speech embodied the consensual approach that is essential to this issue. After all, the Parliament was supposed to be about consensus. Mr Russell mentioned that the bill or similar measures were promised in the manifestos of the Liberal Democrats, the Labour party and the SNP. We can work together to make this happen.
In that context, Alasdair Morrison's speech was particularly depressing. His inability to rise to the occasion never fails to surprise me. We can all disagree with aspects of the bill, but let us do so with dignity rather than with a sneer. Mr Morrison accused Mike Russell of introducing the bill late in the day. Perhaps he would like to reflect on why it was left to Mike Russell to do that, given that when he was the minister responsible for Gaelic he had the opportunity to introduce precisely such a bill—an opportunity that he chose to let pass.
The Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport identified a number of problems with the bill. He asks some legitimate questions, but the problems with the bill are by no means insuperable. He made the point, which other members have made, that there is confusion about whether equal status should apply throughout Scotland or, as in the bill, only in certain areas of Scotland. The minister disagrees with the committee—it is his right to do so—but the logic of that is that he supports the original bill. I have to say that I do not really care that much which way the bill goes, as long as we get the Parliament to vote to put the bill through.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Mr George Reid):
SNP
A-nis, tha sinn a' gluasad gu deasbad na Gàidhlig.
Following is the simultaneous interpretation:
SNP
We now move to the debate on Gaelic.
The member continued in English.
SNP
The next item of business is a debate on motion S1M-3618, in the name of Michael Russell, on the general principles of the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Bill. I...
The member continued in Gaelic.
SNP
Tha mi a' gairm Mhìcheil Ruiseal gus an deasbad fhosgladh.
Following is the simultaneous interpretation:
SNP
I call Michael Russell to open the debate.
Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
Tha an deasbad seo an-diugh a' comharrachadh na darna oidhirp reachdail gus Beurla agus Gàidhlig a chur air stèidh cho-ionann ann an sùilean lagha na h-Alba....
Following is the simultaneous interpretation:
SNP
Today's debate marks the second attempt to put the English and Gaelic languages on an equal footing in the eyes of the law of Scotland. The late Donald Stewa...
The member continued in English.
SNP
There are more than 6,000 languages in the world and perhaps as many as 90 per cent of those languages are at risk. Somewhere in the world a language dies ev...
Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab):
Lab
I acknowledge the member's commitment—which he has shown from the beginning of this Parliament—to the protection of the Gaelic language.I represent a constit...
Michael Russell:
SNP
I think that it will assist them. I accept the point that Pauline McNeill makes and I will say something specifically about Glasgow later in my speech.The Ex...
The member continued in Gaelic.
SNP
Agus, anns a' Ghàidhlig,Gu bheil a' Phàrlamaid a' toirt taic do phrionnsabalan coitcheann Bile Cànan na Gàidhlig (Alba).
The Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport (Mike Watson):
Lab
I want to thank the Education, Culture and Sport Committee for the time that it has set aside to consider in depth the issues that have been raised by Michae...
Michael Russell:
SNP
I am happy to provide the letter for the Parliament's consideration. I should point out that it does not say what Mike Watson suggested. Rather, it makes thr...
Mike Watson:
Lab
Surely that was one of the longest interventions in this session of the Parliament.
Michael Russell:
SNP
I was correcting an error.
Mike Watson:
Lab
I have the member's letter here, but I do not propose to quote from it.It is incumbent on any member who is introducing a bill to provide information on the ...
Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP):
SNP
Has Bòrd Gàidhlig na h-Alba now met and has it reached a view on whether it is in favour of the bill?
Mike Watson:
Lab
As is well and publicly recorded, Bòrd Gàidhlig na h-Alba considered the bill and is generally supportive of it, but believes that the bill should be amended...
Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
It is with pleasure that I speak in support of Michael Russell's Gaelic Language (Scotland) Bill.The Gaelic language is in an extremely precarious position. ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
Order. I say gently that we do not allow applause from the public gallery, because we might also have abuse or be shouted at from there, as happened the othe...
Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con):
Con
I welcome the bill and congratulate Michael Russell on introducing it. I am aware of the hard work that he put into it over a long time. I hope that he will ...
John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD):
LD
Tha mi a' cur fàilte air a h-uile duine dhan deasbad shònraichte seo mu dheidhinn Gàidhlig. Cha leig mi leis innse do dhuine sam bith an seo, gu bheil àite g...
Following is the simultaneous interpretation:
LD
I welcome everybody to this special debate on Gaelic. I do not have to tell anyone here that Gaelic has a special place in the heart and soul of a proud nati...
Mr Alasdair Morrison (Western Isles) (Lab):
Lab
Anns na ceithir bliadhnaichean a chaidh seachad, tha sinn air adhartas fhaicinn ann an iomadach roinn co-cheangailte ris a' Ghàidhlig. Chaidh rudan a dhèanam...
Following is the simultaneous interpretation:
Lab
In the past four years, we have taken a number of important steps in many relevant areas to advance the cause of the Gaelic language. We should be mindful no...
Dr Winnie Ewing (Highlands and Islands) (SNP):
SNP
Tha mi uabhasach toilichte a bhith ann am Pàrlamaid na h-Alba a-rithist, agus tha mi uabhasach toilichte cuideachd gu bheil deasbad againn an-diugh. Tha mi d...
Following is the simultaneous interpretation:
SNP
I am happy to be in the Scottish Parliament again and I am pleased that we are having the debate. I am sorry that I am not fluent in Gaelic yet, but I promis...
The member continued in English.
SNP
We were told by our grandparents that Gaelic would hold us back but, as I have just said, that is nonsense. It is proven to everyone's satisfaction that if s...
George Lyon (Argyll and Bute) (LD):
LD
I congratulate Mike Russell on bringing the bill before the Parliament and giving us the opportunity to debate the ways in which we might reverse the alarmin...
Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab):
Lab
I support the principles of the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Bill, which Mike Russell promoted and which is being debated. I know that he has put much effort i...