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Bord na Gaidhlig
16/08/2007
An-diugh dh'fhoillsich Linda Fabiani, Ministear airson na h-Eòrpa, Cultair agus Chùisean Taobh a-muigh, gur e Coinneach Moireach an Ceannard ùr a bhios aig Bòrd na Gàidhlig.
Thuirt Ms Fabiani:
"Tha mi toilichte aonta a chur ris agus tha mi cinnteach gun do rinn Bòrd na Gàidhlig taghadh ceart ann an Coinneach Moireach.
"Tha na sgilean iomchaidh aig Coinneach Moireach airson Bòrd na Gàidhlig a stiùireadh agus gnìomhachadh Achd na Gàidhlig (Alba) 2005 a ghluasad air adhart.
"Tha an t-àm seo ro-chudromach airson leasachadh Gàidhlig an Alba. Rinn sinn adhartas math ann am prìomh roinnean de leasachadh Gàidhlig agus tha mi a' coimhead air adhart ri bhith ag obair còmhla ri Coinneach Moireach aig Bòrd na Gàidhlig gus togail air an adhartas sin, dleastanasan a' Phlana Nàiseanta a ghluasad air adhart agus a' Ghàidhlig a chumail beò an Alba."
Thuirt Fiona Hyslop, Rùnaire a' Chaibineit airson Foghlaim agus Ionnsachadh Fad-bheatha:
"Tha mi a' cur fàilte air an dreuchd seo agus tha mi airson a ràdh gu bheil e cudromach airson leasachadh Gàidhlig an Alba. 'S e ar n-amas gum bi a' Ghàidhlig seasmhach agus làidir an Alba san àm ri teachd agus tha foghlam Gàidhlig na phàirt deatamach den seo.
"Tha an Riaghaltas ùr seo ag iarraidh adhartas a dhèanamh ann am brosnachadh agus leasachadh foghlam Gàidhlig agus bidh mi a' coimhead ri Bòrd na Gàidhlig airson comhairle shoilleir mu na nithean sin fhad 's a bhios iad a' gluasad air adhart le gnìomhachadh Plana Nàiseanta na Gàidhlig.
"Tha prìomh phàirt aig Bòrd na Gàidhlig ann am foghlam Gàidhlig aig a h-uile ìre agus bidh mi toilichte a bhith ag obair còmhla ri Mata MacÌomhair agus buill a' Bhùird aige agus ri Coinneach Moireach agus an sgioba aige-san anns na mìosan ri teachd".
Thuirt Cathraiche Bòrd na Gàidhlig Mata MacÌomhair:
"Tha sinn air leth toilichte ainmeachadh gur e Coinneach Moireach ar Ceannard ùr. Dh'fheumadh sinn an duine ceart fhaighinn airson na h-obrach seo agus tha mi a' smaoineachadh gur e Coinneach Moireach an duine ceart.
"'S e taghadh cudromach a tha an seo do shaoghal na Gàidhlig. 'S i a' Ghàidhlig ciad chànan Choinnich Mhoireach agus rinn e sàr obair ann an diofar dhreuchdan san t-seirbheis phoblach. Tha e air leth eudmhor mu chànan agus a chultar agus tha e a' faireachdainn gu bheil e airson a sgilean a chur ri adhartachadh agus leasachadh na Gàidhlig.
"'S e aghaidh ùr agus tòiseachadh ùr a tha an seo don Bhòrd. Tha sinn uile a' coimhead air adhart gu mòr ri bhith ag obair còmhla ri Coinneach Moireach airson fìor adhartas a dhèanamh ann an gnìomhachadh Plana Nàiseanta na Gàidhlig thar nan seachdainean agus nam mìosan ri teachd."
Thuirt Coinneach Moireach:
"Tha mi air leth toilichte a bhith a' tòiseachadh san dreuchd inntinneach agus dhùbhlanach seo agus air leth taingeil an cothrom fhaighinn air Bòrd na Gàidhlig a stiùireadh aig an ìre chudromach seo. Tha tòiseachadh Achd na Gàidhlig, cur an dreuchd Bòrd ùr agus cruthachadh Plana Nàiseanta na chothrom gun samhail do shaoghal na Gàidhlig airson fàs agus buaidh. 'S e àm inntinneach a tha an seo don Ghàidhlig agus, nuair a tha buidhnean poblach a-nis a' strì ri Planaichean Gàidhlig a choileanadh, tha mi airson dèanamh cinnteach gum bi structairean iomchaidh againn a nì cinnteach gun toir am Bòrd seachad nan seirbheisean agus an taic as fheàrr a ghabhas agus gum bi e comasach air a dhleastanasan reachdail a choileanadh.
"Ach tha mi cuideachd airson sàr sheirbheisean agus thaic a thoirt do choimhearsnachdan Gàidhlig - gus am faigh iad air obrachadh còmhla rinn airson stad a chur air a' chrìonadh sa Ghàidhlig agus toirt air fàs a-rithist. Bidh Plana Nàiseanta na Gàidhlig fìor chudromach airson seo a dhèanamh agus tha mi a' coimhead air adhart ri bhith a' còmhradh ri luchd-labhairt agus luchd-ionnsachaidh agus ri daoine le ùidh sa chànan airson taic a thoirt do ar cànan agus cultar."
FIOS DO LUCHD-NAIDHEACHD
Tha Coinneach Moireach fileanta sa Ghàidhlig agus tha e air a bhith ann an diofar dhreuchdan aig Coimisean nan Coilltean, gu h-àraidh mar oifigear Aonadh Ciùird. Stèidhichte an Dùn Èideann airson 26 bliadhna, cho-òrdanaich e na h-Aonaidhean Coilltearachd airson iomadh bliadhna aig ìrean Breatannach agus Eòrpach. Ann an 2000, thòisich e ag obair ann an Àrd-rùnachas Poileasaidh Choimisean nan Coilltean, a' dèiligeadh ri cùisean tiomnaichte an Alba agus sa Chuimrigh agus ri cùisean glèidhte ann an Lunnainn. Ann an 2002, mar phàirt de sgrùdadh air rèite tiomnadh chumhachdan Choimisean nan Coilltean, chaidh Mgr Moireach gu Coimisean nan Coilltean Alba. Ghluais e a dh'Inbhir Nis ann an 2005 airson tòiseachadh ann an dreuchd Manaidsear Phrògraman Pàrlamaideach agus Cultarail agus bha e na Oifigear Poileasaidh Gàidhlig aig Coimisean nan Coilltean mar phàirt de obair air feadh Alba. Thogadh Mgr Moireach (45) ann an Àird Thunga an Leòdhas, agus tha e fhèin 's a bhean, a mac agus a nighean a' fuireach an Inbhir Nis.
Bha Bòrd na Gàidhlig air a stèidheachadh mar chompanaidh agus mar bhuidheann le maoineachadh poblach san Fhaoilleach 2003. Às dèidh Achd na Gàidhlig (Alba) 2005 a chur an gnìomh chaidh ath-shuidheachadh mar bhuidheann reachdail. Chaidh Ailean Caimbeul fhastadh mar a' chiad Cheannard bho Giblean 2003 agus ghluais e còmhla ri luchd-obrach eile bho Bhòrd na Gàidhlig, an companaidh, gu Bòrd na Gàidhlig, am buidheann reachdail, sa Ghearran 2006.
Thòisich cumhachan Achd na Gàidhlig (Alba) 2005 air 13mh Gearran 2006. Stèidhich Achd 2005 Bòrd na Gàidhlig le diofar ghnìomhan airson cleachdadh agus tuigse na Gàidhlig adhartachadh. Fo Achd 2005 feumaidh am Bòrd Plana Nàiseanta na Gàidhlig agus Stiùireadh do Bhuidhnean Poblach air Planadh Cànain a dheasachadh, agus tha e a' toirt cumhachd don Bhòrd fiosan a chur a-mach gu buidheann taghte ag iarraidh orra Planaichean Gàidhlig a dheasachadh.
'S e rùn a' Phlana Nàiseanta modail ullachadh airson leasachadh Gàidhlig an Alba san àm ri teachd agus 's e sgrìobhainn a tha ann a dh'fhaodadh an Riaghaltas, agus buidhnean poblach, prìobhaideach agus saor-thoileach a chleachdadh airson beachdachadh mun dòigh as fheàrr air taic a thoirt do leasachadh Gàidhlig. 'S e an t-amas a bhith a' cumail na Gàidhlig beò an Alba san àm ri teachd. Tha an Stiùireadh do Bhuidhnean Poblach air Planadh Cànain a' mìneachadh Achd na Gàidhlig (Alba) 2005 agus a' toirt comhairle do dh'ùghdarrasan poblach air mar a dh'fhaodadh cumhachan Achd 2005 leasachadh Gàidhlig an Alba adhartachadh.
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English version
Culture Minister Linda Fabiani today announced that Bòrd na Gàidhlig will appoint Kenneth Murray as its new Chief Executive.
Ms Fabiani said:
"I am delighted to approve this appointment and I am confident that in Kenneth Murray Bòrd na Gàidhlig has made a strong selection.
"Kenneth Murray will bring the right combination of skills to lead Bòrd na Gàidhlig and to take forward the implementation of the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005.
"This is a crucial time for the development of Gaelic in Scotland. We have made good progress in key areas of Gaelic development and I am looking forward to working with Kenneth Murray at Bòrd na Gàidhlig to build on this, taking forward the commitments of the National Plan and creating a sustainable future for Gaelic in Scotland."
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning Fiona Hyslop said:
"I welcome this appointment and would like to emphasise that this is a key appointment for Gaelic development in Scotland. Our aim is to create a sustainable and positive future for Gaelic in Scotland and Gaelic education has a vital and necessary contribution to make to this.
"This new Government is keen to make progress in promoting and developing Gaelic education and I will be looking to Bòrd na Gàidhlig for clear advice on these matters as they move forward with the implementation of the National Plan for Gaelic.
"Bòrd na Gàidhlig has a key role in Gaelic education at all levels and I will look forward to working with Matthew MacIver and the members of his Bord and with Kenneth Murray and his team in the months ahead".
Bòrd na Gàidhlig Chairman Matthew MacIver said:
"We are delighted to announce Kenneth Murray as our new Chief Executive. It was vital that we got the right person for this job and I believe Kenneth Murray is that person.
"This is a significant appointment for the Gaelic world. Kenneth Murray is a native Gaelic speaker who has excelled in a variety of public service roles. He is passionate about his language and culture and feels that it is time to offer his skills to the service of promoting and developing Gaelic.
"This is a new face and a new start for the Bòrd. We are all hugely looking forward to working with Kenneth Murray to make real progress in implementing the National Plan for Gaelic over the coming weeks and months."
Mr Murray said:
"I am delighted to be taking up this exciting and challenging post and I feel honoured to be given the opportunity to lead Bòrd na Gàidhlig at this important stage in its development. The commencement of the Gaelic Language Act, the appointment of a new Bòrd and the creation of a National Plan has provided the world of Gaelic with an unparalleled opportunity for growth and positive influence.
"This is an exciting time for Gaelic and, as public bodies now seek to deliver Gaelic Language Plans, I want to ensure that we have appropriate structures in place to ensure that the Bòrd provides the best possible services and support and is able to fulfil its statutory obligations.
"But I am also committed to providing first class services and support to Gaelic speaking communities - to encourage them to work with us to arrest the decline in Gaelic and begin to grow it again. The National Plan for Gaelic will be hugely important in doing this and I look forward to developing a dialogue with speakers and learners and enthusiasts to help our language and culture."
Kenneth Murray, 45, is a native Gaelic speaker is originally from Tong on Lewis and has held various posts throughout his career with the Forestry Commission, most prominently as a Trade Union official. Based in Edinburgh for 26 years, he co-ordinated the Forestry Unions for many years at UK and European levels.
In 2000, he took up post in the Forestry Commission's Central Policy Secretariat, dealing with devolved issues in Scotland and Wales and with reserved issues at Westminster. In 2002, as part of a review of the Forestry Commission's devolution settlement, Mr Murray moved to Forestry Commission Scotland.
He moved to Inverness in 2005 to take up the newly created post of Parliamentary and Cultural Programmes Manager and assumed the role of the Forestry Commission's Gaelic Language Policy Officer as part of his Scotland-wide remit. Mr Murray is married, has a stepson and a daughter and lives in Inverness.
Bòrd na Gàidhlig was established as a company and public funded body in January 2003. Following the passing of the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 it was re-established as a statutory body. Allan Campbell was appointed as the first Chief Executive from April 2003 and together with other staff transferred from Bòrd na Gàidhlig, the company, to Bòrd na Gàidhlig, the statutory body, in February 2006.
The provisions of the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 were commenced on 13th February 2006. The 2005 Act established Bòrd na Gàidhlig with a range of functions to promote the use and understanding of Gaelic. The 2005 Act requires the preparation of a National Gaelic Language Plan and Guidance for Public Bodies on Language Planning by the Bòrd, and gives the Bòrd authority to issue notices to selected public bodies requiring the preparation of Gaelic Language Plans.