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.