This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Historic Day for Gaelic
21/04/2005
Fhuair Gàidhlig inbhe ùr mar chànan ann an Alba airson
a' chiad uair an-diugh, nuair a dh'aontaich Parlamaid na
h-Alba ri Bile na Gàidhlig.
Tha an reachdas air a dhealbhadh gus cleachdadh na
Gàidhlig a thoirt an àrd, inbhe a' chànain a dheanamh
tèarainte agus àm ri teachd don chànan a dhearbhadh san
fhad-ùine.
Thuirt Ministear an Fhoghlaim, Peadar Peacock, aig a
bheil uallach ministreil airson na Gàidhlig:
" 'S e là cudromach a th' ann an seo don Ghàidhlig 's
tha sinn a' fosgladh caibdeil ùr ann an eachdraidh a'
chànain. Tha sinn air thighinn air slighe fhada bho na
droch làithean ann an 1616 nuair a riaghlaich Achd na
Parlamaid gum bu choir "cuidhteas is fuadachadh" fhaighinn
air a' Ghaidhlig.
"Tha Gàidhlig na pàirt luachmhor is priseil de ar
n-eachdraidh is ar cultar agus cuidichidh Achd na Gàidhlig
le a dearbhadh mar phàirt bheartach de dh'àm ri teachd ar
dùthcha cuideachd.
"Cruthaichidh an Achd seo an coitheacs agus a'
mhisneachd airson Gàidhlig a bhith ga toirt seachad bho
phàrant gu paiste, ga brosnachadh ann an sgoiltean is ga
cleachdadh fad is farsaing ann an coimhearsnachdan is
àiteachan-obrach."
"Tha na h-àireamhan de dhaoine òga againn aig a bheil
Gàidhlig a' sìor-fhas mu thràth - airson a' mhòr chuid, air
sgath's soirbheachadh is mòr-cordte Fhoghlam tro Mheadhan
na Gàidhlig.
" 'S e an dùbhlan romhainn a-nis an òigridh seo agus
ginealaich ùr a bhrosnachadh, 's a dhèanamh cinnteach gu
bheil cothroman leantainneach aca airson an sgilean cànain
a leasachadh, ach nas cudhthromaiche, a chleachdadh . 'S e
seo an rud a ni Achd na Gàidhlig."
Thuirt Cathraiche Bòrd na Gàidhlig, Donnchadh
Fearghasdan:
" 'S e là fìor chudthromach dha-rireabh ann an
eachdraidh cultar is cànan nan Gaidheal a th' ann an seo.
An-diugh, tha Gàidhlig air a bhith ga h-aithneachadh gu
h-oifigeil mar phàirt chudthromach is luachmhor den chultar
bheò aig Alba shoirbheachail ùr, agus tha sinn toilichte
fàilte a chur air teachd Achd na Gàidhlig.
" 'S e là airson ho-ro-gheallaidh, meall ur naidheachd
agus fìor taing a thoirt dhan a h-ùile duine a tha air
obrachadh don Ghàidhlig thar uamhas de bhliadhnaichean a
th' ann an-diugh. Tha e na àm cuideachd airson sùil a
thoirt don àm ri teachd, do ghinealach mhisneachail ùr de
Ghaidheil, do chothroman ùra airson a' Ghàidhlig a
dh'ionnsachadh is a chleachdadh, agus do thuigse agus spèis
nas motha airson cultar is cànan nan Gaidheal."
Tha Achd na Gàidhlig ag aithneachadh Gàidhlig mar chànan
oifigeil na h-Alba, aig a bheil speis cho-ionnan ris a'
Bheurla. Tha an Achd a' steidheachadh Bòrd na Gàidhlig mar
phàirt de bhun-structair riaghaltais na h-Alba agus a'
dèanamh riatanas airson plana nàiseanta do Gàidhlig gus
stiùireadh ro-innleachdail a thabhann airson leaschadh na
Gàidhlig.
Tha i a' toirt àite cudromach do Bhord na Gàidhlig
airson Gàidhlig a thoirt an àrd ann an Alba, a'
comhairleachadh Ministerean na h-Alba mu chùisean Gàidhlig,
ag iomain air adhart dealbhadh Gaidhlig agus ag ullachadh
stiùireadh air foghlam Gàidhlig. Tha an Achd cuideachd a'
tabhann bun-structair airson planaichean cànain Gàidhlig a
chruthachadh le ughdarrasan poblach an Alba.
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
Gaelic was given new status as a language in Scotland
for the first time today, as the Scottish Parliament passed
the Gaelic Language Bill.
The legislation is designed to promote the use of
Gaelic, secure the status of the language and ensure it has
a long-term future.
Education Minister Peter Peacock, who has ministerial
responsibility for Gaelic, said:
"This is a momentous day for Gaelic as we open a new
chapter in the language's history. We have come a long way
since the dark days of 1616 when an Act of Parliament ruled
that Gaelic should be 'abolishit and removit' from
Scotland.
"Gaelic is a precious part of our history and our
culture and the Gaelic Language Act will help to ensure it
can also be a flourishing part of our country's future.
"This Act will create both the context and the
confidence for Gaelic to be passed on in families, promoted
in schools and widely used in communities and
workplaces.
"We already have growing numbers of young Gaelic
speakers - thanks, largely, to the success and growing
popularity of Gaelic medium education.
"Our challenge now is to nurture these youngsters and
future generations ensuring they have continued
opportunities to develop their language skills and, more
importantly, to use them. That is what the Gaelic Language
Act will do."
Chairman of Bòrd na Gàidhlig, Duncan Ferguson said:
"This is a truly significant moment in the history of
the Gaelic language and culture. Today Gaelic has been
officially recognised as an important and valuable part
of the living culture of a thriving new Scotland, and
we are delighted to welcome the advent of the Gaelic
Language Act.
"Today is an occasion for celebration, congratulations
and thanks to all those people who have worked
for Gaelic over so many years. It is also a time to look
to the future, to a new and confident generation of Gaelic
speakers, to new opportunities to learn and to use Gaelic,
and to a greater understanding and respect for the Gaelic
language and culture."
The Gaelic Language Act recognises Gaelic as an official
language of Scotland, commanding equal respect with
English. The Act establishes Bòrd na Gàidhlig as part of
the framework of government in Scotland and requires the
creation of a national plan for Gaelic to provide strategic
direction for the development of the Gaelic language.
It gives Bòrd na Gàidhlig a key role in promoting Gaelic
in Scotland, advising Scottish Ministers on Gaelic issues,
driving forward Gaelic planning and preparing guidance on
Gaelic education. The Act also provides a framework for the
creation of Gaelic language plans by Scottish public
authorities.