Minutes of Meeting of the Gaelic Select Committee held in the Council Chamber, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday, 9 March 2006 at 2.30 p.m

 

 

 

Officials in attendance:

 

Mr D MacDonald, Head of Education Services

Mr J MacDonald, Area Manager, Skye and Lochalsh

Ms M A MacLeod, Gaelic Development Officer

Mrs F Hampton, Director, Highland 2007

Ms S Tarrant, Public Relations Officer,

Mr J Allison, Principal Administrator, Corporate Services

Miss V Rushton, Administrative Assistant, Corporate Services

 

Mr H Fraser in the Chair

Business

 
1.  Apologies for Absence

 

Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Mrs J Urquhart; Mr W J Smith; and Mrs S Slimon.

2.  Scottish Executive Presentation : Douglas Andsell

 

The Chairman informed the Committee that Douglas Ansdell had intimated his apologies as he was unable to attend the meeting.

 

The Chairman took the opportunity to inform Members of the recent visit made by the Committee of Experts (COMMEX) to Edinburgh in January 2006. Representatives from the Council had attended and had stressed that it was important that the next visit of COMMEX to Scotland should be held in the Highland Area. He indicated that, although the time allowed for the meeting was short, he felt that it had been possible to get the current key issues on Gaelic language and Culture over to COMMEX

 

The Select Committee NOTED the position.
 
3. Highland 2007 Update

 

There had been circulated report GSC 06/06 by the Project Director, which provided an update on developments to promote Gaelic language and culture through the Highland 2007 programme. 

 

The Project Director informed Members that a Gaelic Steering Group had now been formed which would have three main functions including, to stimulate proposals through which Gaelic could be promoted throughout the programme of events; to review the content and representation of Gaelic within Highland 2007; and to consider and advise on proposals for events and projects that would promote Gaelic language and culture that did not come under the Community Projects framework.

 

Members were also informed of the proposal from Cànan, providers of innovative learning and language solutions based on Skye, to provide access for the public throughout Scotland to an introduction to Gaelic language and culture. This opportunity would come through ‘Air Splaoid’ an online programme that would benefit from the marketing power of Highland 2007 to reach as wide an audience as possible and encourage them to learn Gaelic. It was explained that this initiative, alongside the Blas festival, were the only projects receiving funding from the core budget of Highland 2007.

 

 During discussion the following points were made:

 

• the Air Splaoid proposal would form an excellent basis to encourage more people to learn Gaelic;
• programmes from a variety of organisations, including initiatives by the G15, to learn Gaelic should be streamlined and linked with the Air Splaoid proposal and  operate as the backbone for learning Gaelic during Highland 2007;
• there was a need for active involvement of the BBC with Air Splaoid to reach as wide an audience as possible;  and
• the development of Gaelic Learners in the Primary School and ‘Gaelic is all Around’ programmes further, could only be achieved if staffing resources were available.

 

The Select Committee NOTED the report and AGREED:

 

a) to emphasise the need to continue to ensure that Gaelic was the key thread to 2007;
b) that the opportunity should be taken to promote learning Gaelic through the ‘Air Splaoid’ proposal: and
c) that negotiations should continue with the BBC on their contribution to ‘Air Splaoid’.

 4. Gaelic Place Names Liaison Committee - Development Plan

The Gaelic Development Officer informed Members of the progress made with the Gaelic Place-Names Liaison Committee over the last few months. It was hoped the Committee would be formally established under the name Ainmean Àite na h-Alba, ‘Gaelic Place-Names of Scotland’. It was highlighted to Members that the constitution was being prepared, and it was hoped that the Committee would have a national stance across Scotland. Members were also informed that an application had been submitted to Bord na Gaidhlig for funding.

 The Select Committee NOTED the information.

5. Tobar An Dualchais

 

There had been circulated report GSC 07/06 by the Area Manager, Skye and Lochalsh, which informed Members of how the project to preserve and improve accessibility to a vast amount of Gaelic and Scots sound recordings had developed. The collections within the BBC Archive, The School of Scottish Studies and the Campbell Canna material were to be catalogued and digitised over the five years of the project.

 

Members were informed that the initial delays starting the project had been overcome and the Project Director hoped to establish that partners and funding bodies would maintain their commitment to the project. The Council had been asked to reaffirm its support and its original funding contribution of £10k.

 

It was explained that there had been increased costs due to the delay in starting the project. However, Members commented that once the project was in operation the Project Director should be invited to give a presentation to the Committee before any further funding could considered.

 

The Select Committee AGREED to recommend:

 

(a) that the Council’s overall contribution to the project be maintained meantime at £50k;
(b) that the request for the additional sum of £10k be deferred and reviewed at a later date; and
(c) to invite the Project Director to make a presentation to the Committee once the project was established.
 

6. Update Report

 

There had been circulated report GSC 08/06 by the Area Manager, Skye and Lochalsh, informing Members of progress on the following issues:

 

• The Gaelic Language Act;
• Bord na Gaidhlig Appointments;
• New Premier of Nova Scotia;
• Gaelic Community Learning Conference;
• Gaelic Media Service; and
• Julie Fowlis Radio 2 Award

 

During discussion Members emphasised the need for active promotion of bi-lingualism across the Highlands with emphasis on the historical and cultural importance of Gaelic. It was important to remind all Councillors of the Council’s policy towards Gaelic and how to promote it across all areas.

 

Members welcomed the appointment of the new Premier of Novia Scotia, Mr R MacDonald. Mr MacDonald who represents Inverness County, Cape Breton in the Nova Scotia Parliament, had signed the Memorandum of Understanding with the Council; and had appointed  Mr A MacIssac to the new position of Minister Responsible for Gaelic in the Nova Scotia Cabinet.
 
Following discussion by Members, the following points were AGREED:

 

(i) to consult with the Chief Executive of the Gaelic Media Service regarding the next steps in the provision of Gaelic media services in the Highlands;
(ii) to invite the Scottish Minister for Culture to attend the Gaelic Select Committee to discuss Gaelic cultural issues in the Highlands;
(iii) that Members be reminded of the Council’s policy towards Gaelic and how to promote it within all areas;
(iv) to make representations to the BBC regarding the poor quality of/lack of reception of BBC Radio nan Gaidheal across Scotland and the provision for digital radio in the Highlands for both Radio nan Gaidheal and Radio Highland opt outs; 
(v) to host a seminar between Bord na Gaidhlig, the Council and others involved with Gaelic Medium Education; and
(vi) an invitation be made to Mr A MacIssac, Minister Responsible for Gaelic, Nova Scotia to visit the Highlands.

 

The Select Committee otherwise NOTED the report.

 

The meeting closed at 3:25pm