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Bòrd na Gàidhlig appointments

15/01/2004

An-diugh dh'fhoillsich Ministear an Fhoghlaim Peadar Peacock gu robh dithis bhall ùr air an cur an dreuchd gu Bòrd na Gàidhlig - an t-Àrd-Ollamh Coinneach MacFhionghain agus Rob Dunbar.

Bidh na dreuchdan a' ruith bho 1 Faoilleach 2004 gu 31 Dùbhlachd 2006 le tuarastal bliadhnail de £6,000.

Thuirt Mgr Peacock:

"Tha mi air leth toilichte gu bheil an làn àireamh de ochd buill a-nis aigBòrd na Gàidhlig. Tha na dreuchdan sin, agus stèidheachadh Bòrd na Gàidhlig, nan aithrisean soilleir air an taic, agus an t-àite, a tha Riaghaltas na h-Alba a' toirt do chànan agus cultar na Gàidhlig.

"Tha mi cinnteach gun cuidich An t-Ollamh MacFhionghain agus Mgr Dunbar am Bòrd a' cur gu mòr ri leasachadh cànan agus cultar na Gàidhlig agus bidh mi toilichte a bhith ag obrachadh còmhla riutha gus dèanamh cinnteach gum bi a' Ghàidhlig beò agus a' fàs.

"Tha iad a' tòiseachadh mar bhuill den Bhòrd aig àm a tha inntinneach airson na Gàidhlig. Aig an àm seo tha sinn a' beachdachadh mun iomadh freagairt a fhuair sinn ri ar co-chomhairle mu dhreach Bhile na Gàidhlig agus tha sinn ag ullachadh airson reachdas a thoirt a-steach don phàrlamaid. Bidh pàirt ro-chudthromach aig a' Bhòrd ann am buileachadh an reachdais seo."

Thuirt Donnchadh Fearghastan, Cathraiche Bòrd na Gàidhlig:

"Tha mi air leth toilichte gu bheil an t-Ollamh MacFhionghain agus Mgr Dunbar a-nis air an cur an dreuchd. Bheir iad don sgioba - Sgioba Ghaidhlig - am measgachadh ceart de eòlas, comasan agus dealas a chuidicheas le obair a' Bhùird agus a choinnicheas ri mòr-mhiannan a' choimhearsnachd Ghàidhlig nàiseanta."

'S e Buidheann Phoblach Neo-roinneil (NDPB) a tha ann amBòrd na Gàidhlig agus tha am Bòrd air a chur an dreuchd le, agus cunntachail do Mhinistearan na h-Alba. Tha Bòrd na Gàidhligair a dhèanamh suas de eadar sia agus ochd buill, a' gabhail a-staigh an Cathraiche. Tha Bòrd na Gàidhligstèidhichte an Inbhir Nis. Tha àite deatamach aige ann an co-dhùnadh prìomh-amasan airson leasachadh Gàidhlig an Alba agus ann an dèanamh cinnteach gum faighear deagh luach an airgid airson maoinean poblach.

Àrd-ollamh Coinneach MacFhionghain: Àrd-ollamh Siubhail/Leughadair Urramach* ann an Eòlas-comainn Cànain aig Oilthigh Hertfordshire, Fellow Urramach ann an Ceiltis aig Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann, Leas-òraidiche den Oilthigh Fhosgailte ann an Saidheansan Sòisealta, Foghlam agus Eòlas Cànain agus na Neach-comhairleachaidh airson Foghlam Àrd-ìre, Gàidhlig agus Mion-chànanan. 'S e an neach-eagrachaidh airson Rannsachadh SGRÙD (Sgrùdaidhean air Gàidhlig, Aonad Rannsachaidh, Stòr-dàta) bho 1992. Sheas e mar thagraiche liosta airson a' Phàrtaidh Uaine an Alba anns a' Ghàidhealtachd 's na h-Eileanan ann an Taghaidhean Pàrlamaid 1999 agus tha e air cuideachadh le craolaidhean pàrtaidh poileataigeach. Aig an àm seo chan eil e na bhall de phàrtaidh poileataigeach sam bith agus chan eil e ann an dreuchd sam bith eile aig Ministearan na h-Alba.

Robert Dunbar:Àrd-òraidiche ann an Lagh an Oilthigh Ghlaschu. Roimhe seo tha e air a bhith na leas-neach-lagha aig Fasken Martineau, Luchd-tagraidh agus Luchd-lagha an Toronto agus chaidh mòran phìosan a sgrìobh e mu chùisean cànain am foillseachadh ann am prìomh phàipearan làitheil san RA agus san Roinn Eòrpa. Tha Mgr Dunbar na eòlaiche de Chomhairle na h-Eòrpa agus na Phrìomh Leas-neach-rannsachaidh Neo-chòmhnaidh de Ionad Eòrpach nam Mion-chùisean am Flensburg, sa Ghearmailt. Cha do dh'fhoillsich Mgr Dunbar gu robh e an sàs ann an obair phoileataigeach sam bith sna còig bliadhna mu dheireadh agus chan eil e ann an dreuchd sam bith aig Ministearan na h-Alba.

Chaidh na dreuchdan Ministreil poblach an dèanamh ann an co-rèir ri stiùireadh bho Oifis a' Choimiseanair airson Dreuchdan Poblach (OCPA). Chaidh cunntasan dearbhaidh fhaighinn bhon Mheasadair Neo-eisimeileach air a chur an dreuchd le OCPA. Tha seo a' dearbhadh làn ghèilleadh do Chòd-obrachaidh OCPA aig gach ìre den phròiseas cur an dreuchd.

Chaidh an Cathraiche, Donnchadh Fearghastan, Ceannard Àrd-sgoil a' Phluic a chur an dreuchd air 11 Dàmhair 2002.

Chiadh Aithisg a' Bhuidhinn Comhairleachaidh Ministreil, A Fresh Start for Gaelic, fhoillseachadh sa Chèitean 2002 agus dh'fhoillsich Ministearan na h-Alba sa Chèitean 2002 gum biodh Buidheann Leasachaidh Gàidhlig air a stèidheachadh. 'S e stèidheachadh Buidheann Leasachaidh Gàidhlig aon de phrìomh mholaidhean na h-aithisge.




The appointment of two new members to Bòrd na Gàidhlig were announced today - Professor Ken MacKinnon and Rob Dunbar.

The appointments run from January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2006 and the annual remuneration is £6,000.

Education Minister Peter Peacock said:

"I am delighted that Bòrd na Gàidhlig now has its full complement of eight board members. These appointments, and the establishment of Bòrd na Gàidhlig, are clear statements of the Executive's support for, and recognition of, Gaelic language and culture.

"I'm sure that Professor MacKinnon and Mr Dunbar will help the board make a significant contribution to the development of Gaelic language and culture and I look forward to working with them to ensure Gaelic survives and thrives.

"They join the board at an exciting time for Gaelic. We are currently considering the many responses received to our consultation on the draft Gaelic Language Bill and are preparing to introduce legislation to parliament. The board will have a vital role to play in implementing this legislation."

Duncan Ferguson, Chair of Bòrd na Gàidhlig, said:

"I am delighted that Professor MacKinnon and Mr Dunbar have now been appointed. They will add to the team - Team Gaelic/Sgioba Ghaidhlig - the right blend of experience, attributes and commitment to contribute to the work of the board and meet the aspirations of the national Gaelic community."

Bòrd na Gàidhlig is a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) and the Board is appointed by, and accountable to Scottish Ministers. The Board of Bòrd na Gàidhlig consists of between six and eight members, including the Chair. Bòrd na Gàidhlig is based in Inverness. It has a crucial role in determining the priorities for Gaelic development in Scotland and in ensuring good value for money for public funds.


Professor Kenneth MacKinnon is Visiting Professor/Emeritus Reader in Sociology of Language at the University of Hertfordshire, Honorary Fellow in Celtic at the University of Edinburgh, Associate Lecturer of the Open University in Social Sciences, Education and Languages Studies and is a Consultant for Higher Education, Gaelic and Lesser-used languages. He has been organiser of the SGRÙD Research (Surveys on Gaelic, Research Unit, Database) since 1992. He stood as Scottish Green Party list candidate for Highlands and Islands in Parliamentary Elections in 1999 and has assisted with party political broadcasts. He is not currently a member of any political party and holds no other Scottish Ministerial appointment.

Robert Dunbar is a senior Lecturer in Law at the University of Glasgow. He has previously been an associate lawyer with Fasken Martineau, Barristers and Solicitors in Toronto and has had articles published widely on language issues in leading journals in the UK and Europe. Mr Dunbar is an expert of the Council of Europe and is a Senior Non-resident Research Associate of the European Centre for Minority Issues in Flensburg, Germany. Mr Dunbar declared no political activities within the last five years and holds no other Scottish Ministerial appointment.

The Ministerial public appointments were made in accordance with guidance issued by the Office of the Commissioner of Public Appointments (OCPA). Statements of validation from the Independent Assessor appointed by OCPA have been obtained. This confirms full complaince with the OCPA Code of Practice at each stage of the appointments process.

The Chairperson, Duncan Ferguson, Rector of Plockton High School was appointed on October 11, 2002.

The Report of the Ministerial Advisory Group, A Fresh Start for Gaelic, was published in May 2002 and Scottish Ministers announced in June 2002 that a Gaelic Development Agency would be established. The establishment of a Gaelic Development Agency was one of the main recommendations of the report.

Page updated: Saturday, July 17, 2004