The Chairman welcomed Mr Donald Macinnes, Chief Executive of Scotland Europa, who gave a presentation on the role of the organisation and issues affecting Scotland in Europe. Mr Macinnes explained that Scotland Europa had been representing Scotland’s non-governmental interests in Europe since 1992 and their activities included the provision of information and advice to a range of Scottish organisations on European legislation, funding programmes, and the promotion of Scotland within Europe. He had witnessed a shift in language use within the European Parliament in the last 7-8 years and felt there was now a much greater reliance on English as a means of communication between member states. However, the European Commission was keen to promote cultural diversity in Europe, including the promotion of lesser used languages and this would provide opportunities for the expansion of knowledge and use of the Gaelic language. Mr Macinnes extended an invitation to Members of the Committee to visit the office of Scotland Europa.

In reply to Members’ questions, Mr Macinnes explained that:

Members thanked Mr Macinnes for the presentation and further commented that:

There was circulated report GSC11/05 by the Skye & Lochalsh Area Manager summarising a scoping exercise carried out on five locations within the Highland area to assess their suitability and preparedness to host the Royal National Mod.

The Skye and Lochalsh Area Manager explained that a verbal agreement had been reached with An Comunn Gaidhealach for a six yearly circuit for the Mod, with the Highlands being visited twice in each cycle, beginning in Lochaber in 2007 and thereafter in 2010, 2013, 2016 etc. The Lochaber Area Manager informed the Committee that he had been appointed as one of the Vice-Conveners for Mod Lochaber 2007.

Of the five areas focused on by the scoping exercise, using An Comunn venue specifications for assessment purposes, Inverness was deemed the most suitable location, with Lochaber, and Badenoch & Strathspey, being also acceptable, although to a lesser extent. Skye and Dingwall, it was suggested, would struggle at present to meet some of the criteria necessary to host a successful Mod, particularly in relation to a suitable range of venues and the preferred travel distances of those who attended Mods.

One of the difficulties faced during the scoping exercise was the paucity of robust data on visitors to the Mod and its economic impact on a community. It was intended that appropriate market research be undertaken during the 2007 Lochaber Mod. However, of the figures available, it was reported that approximately 64% of visitors to the Mod were from the Highlands and Islands, 80% of Mod visitors attended every Mod, and only 4% of visitors were from outside Scotland.

Members commented that, from the figures quoted, there appeared to be considerable scope to promote the Mod to a wider non-Scottish audience, and also expressed concern that:

It was explained that no area had been ruled out as a location for the Mod in the future and relevant officials would clearly explain what would be required in the future for communities interested in hosting the Mod.

In relation to an economic impact/market research study of Mod Lochaber 2007, Mrs F Hampton, Director of Highland 2007, indicated that she planned a similar study for Highland Year of Culture 2007 and would be willing to share costs and/or information. The Lochaber Area Manager informed the Committee that the Lochaber Enterprise Company had also indicated a willingness to contribute to the study.

1. Council representatives and An Comunn Gaidhealach officials meet with the local branch/Gaelic interest groups in Inverness and Badenoch & Strathspey areas to discuss their interest in hosting the Mod in future years;
2. it be made clear to places such as Skye and Dingwall what improvements in facilities would be required in order to host future Mods;
3. the Area Manager of Skye and Lochalsh discuss the sharing of costs of an economic impact/market research study with the Director of Highland 2007 and the Lochaber Area Manager; and
4. work continue with An Comunn Gaidhealach (Mod) Ltd to ensure that the Mods within the Highland area were well organised, well supported and high quality events.

There was circulated report GSC12/05 by the Director of Education Culture and Sport giving an update on general progress in developing the project and on the integration of Gaelic language and culture within the Highland 2007 programme.

In response to comments, the Director of Highland 2007 explained that:

	the projects listed in the report were only those confirmed to date and many more were expected as the project progressed;
	with funding being provided for the Mhairi Mhor Song Fellowship, the fellowship officer would reciprocate with much needed guidance and assistance on the Gaelic music events that would be a key part of the 2007 programme;
	VisitScotland had agreed to provide £2m of marketing for the project, mainly to a UK and overseas audience, and the Director of 2007 would work with them to ensure their representation of Gaelic would be in line with Council policy; and
	Gaelic would be easily integrated into the proposed Adventure Race in 2007 as the proposed route was already in Gaelic.

Members NOTED the report and the general progress in developing the project and on the integration of Gaelic language and culture within the Highland 2007 programme and AGREED that another meeting be set up with the Gaelic agencies listed in the report, together with the Gaelic Names Liaison Committee, this time with an agenda that emphasised the projects and activities on which advice and assistance could be provided by these agencies, and indicating that grant aid might be available for certain projects.

There was circulated report GS13/05 by the Skye & Lochalsh Area Manager providing Members with an update on progress made on proposals under the terms of the Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) between the Council and the Nova Scotian Provincial Government. It was reported that the exchange of library books with Sydney, Nova Scotia, was going well.

1. the Area Manager, Skye and Lochalsh, make a final attempt to set up an appropriate pre-school exchange with Nova Scotia; and
2. the range of activities that could be usefully progressed through the MOU be reviewed in the next half-yearly report.

There was circulated report GSC14/05 by the Gaelic Development Officer outlining the Council’s submission to Ofcom on the Review of Public Service Broadcasting Phase 3. The report specifically focused on the Gaelic aspect of public service broadcasting.

The Chairman informed Members that the Chief Executive of Grampian Television had declined an invitation to attend the meeting of the Committee. The Vice-Convener voiced the opinion that the attendance of representatives of both the BBC and Grampian Television at the Committee meeting to discuss the future of Gaelic broadcasting would have been beneficial.

There was circulated report GSC15/05 by the Director of Education informing Members that in 2005, 20 years of Gaelic Medium Education (GME) were being celebrated in Highland.

A conference was planned for 23 September 2005 to review the developments which had taken place in relation to Gaelic Medium education and to develop a vision and strategy for the continued development of the Gaelic language in communities and families within Highland, Scotland and internationally. The conference was intended to centre on the future development of the language and culture of Gaelic and was based on the following three main themes:

It was explained that a second conference could be held in Spring 2006, if required, to consider issues relating to Gaelic Medium education in more detail, and could be coordinated, if appropriate, with the visit from the European Parliament’s Committee of Experts, as discussed at Item 2, above (Scotland Europa presentation).

Members expressed concern at the low availability of Gaelic Medium secondary education and commented that it was disappointing that children who had been educated in GME units throughout their primary years often did not have the opportunity to continue their secondary education in the same language.

In reply to concern about the number of teachers who were native Gaelic-speakers but who did not wish to teach through the medium of Gaelic, it was explained that it might not be productive to put pressure on such teachers to teach in Gaelic. Effort would be better placed in devising programmes to support written fluency in native speakers and also the recruitment of new teachers who were native speakers or who had learnt to speak Gaelic.

In relation to the ongoing recruitment difficulties with Gaelic Medium primary and secondary teachers, the Director of Education informed the Committee that a report for the National Education Committee was to be finalised by June 2005. The first draft was ready to be reviewed by the Minister for Education.

There was circulated report GSC16/05 by the Skye & Lochalsh Area Manager summarising the role of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages and outlining how the Council would respond to the request for information for the second periodic review of the Charter.

The Skye and Lochalsh Area Manager informed Members that the proposed response had been based around the Council’s Gaelic Language Scheme.

Members commented that:

The Lochaber Area Manager added that the National Gazetteer for Gaelic Names might usefully be mentioned in the response.

There was circulated report GSC17/05 by the Gaelic Development Officer informing Members on progress as follows:

Members expressed disappointment that the amendment proposed by the Council, which required the Scottish Executive to produce a National Gaelic Education Strategy, had not been accepted as part of the Gaelic Language Bill. The point was made that Bord na Gaidhlig now faced a significant challenge in implementing appropriate action from the Bill, and the Council should work with the Bord to implement appropriate action once the Bill had received its Royal Ascent.

Appreciation was expressed for the Careers Seminar scheduled for 18 May 2005 and Members looked forward to learning of the outcomes of the event.

The Committee NOTED the work in progress and AGREED that:

1. the Chairman attend the fifth forum of the European Bureau for Lesser Used Languages (EBLUL) in Gorizia, Italy, and be authorised to formally invite the 2006 Forum to meet in Skye; and
2. a meeting be arranged with members and officials of Bord na Gaidhlig, prior to the summer recess, to discuss implementation of appropriate action arising from the new Gaelic Language Bill, and the assistance that could be offered by the Council.