SNP MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Alasdair Allan, has welcomed the passing of the Scottish Languages Bill in Parliament this evening.

Alasdair Allan spoke in the final debate on the Bill this evening. The new legislation will give the Gaelic and Scots languages official status in Scotland, as well as set out a new mechanism to allow the designation of Areas of Linguistic Significance. The Bill also includes changes to the functions of Bòrd na Gàidhlig and to the place of Gaelic and Scots in education.

Commenting after the vote, Alasdair Allan said:

“Twenty years on from the first Gaelic Language Act, passed by this parliament in 2005, it is essential that we take this opportunity to build on the progress that has already been made. This Bill supports and protects the Gaelic and Scots languages and recognises the very real challenges to Gaelic’s continued existence as a community language for generations to come. While we have seen a significant increase in the number of Gaelic learners across Scotland, something that should be celebrated, there has also been a further decline in the number of Gaelic speakers in the language’s traditional heartlands.

“I believe the measures set out within the bill which Parliament has backed today will be instrumental - alongside the sustained and vital grassroots efforts of groups and individuals in the Gaelic language community - in protecting Gaelic and regrowing the number of fluent speakers all over Scotland.

“I am hugely grateful to the Deputy First Minister and her team for the collaborative and proactive approach taken in relation to this Bill, working closely with a wide range of stakeholders and with MSPs from across the chamber on suggested amendments. As well as the important provisions for Gaelic within the Scottish Languages Bill, I am pleased to see the Scots language receiving the recognition and platform it deserves, as an integral part of Scotland’s cultural identity.”

Tha BPA na h-Eileanan an Iar, Alasdair Allan, air cantainn gu bheil e air leth toilichte gun deach Bile nan Cànanan Albannach a ghabhail ris ann am Pàrlamaid na h-Alba feasgar an-diugh.

Thug Alasdair Allan òraid seachad san deasbad air an dreach mu dheireadh den bhile. Bheir an reachdais ùr inbhe oifigeal don Ghàidhlig agus do dh’Albais, agus cuideachd bidh e comasach a-nis Sgìrean Cànain Sònraichte a steidheachadh. Thèid comasan Bhòrd na Gàidhlig atharrachadh, agus bidh atharraichean cuideachd ann a thaobh foghlaim Ghaidhlig agus Albais.

A’ bruidhinn a-nochd, às dèidh do bhuill-pàrlamaid gabhail ris a’ bhile, thuirt Alasdair Allan:

“Fichead bliadhna air adhart bhon chiad achd Gàidhlig ann an 2005, tha e riatanch gun gabh sinn a’ chothrom air ar beulaibh gus piseach a thoirt air an soirbheachas a th’ air a bhith ann mu thràth. Tha am bile seo a’ dìon agus a’ toirt taic don chànan Albais agus don Ghàidhlig, agus e ag aithneachadh cuideachd na fìor dhùbhlain a tha seasamh an aghaidh maireann na Gàidhlig mar chànan comhearsnachd airson na ginealachan ri thighinn. Ged a tha àireamhan luchd-ionnsachaidh na Gàidhlig air èirigh gu mòr air feadh Alba (agus ‘s e rud air leth math a tha sin), tha fhathast crìonadh air a bhith ann a thaobh luchd-labhairt na Gàidhlig air a’ Ghàidhealtachd.

“Nam bheachd-sa, cuidichidh na ceumanan sa bhile seo – còmhla ri oidhirpean leantainneach agus ro-chudromach na coimhearsnachd fhèin – le bhith cuideachadh toirt air an àireamh de luchd-labhairt fileantach air feadh Alba fàs a-rithist.

“Tha mi gu math taingeil don Leas Phrìomh Mhinistear, agus an sgioba aice, airson cho co-obrachail agus ro-ghnìomhach ‘s a tha iad air a bhith air a’ bhile seo, ag obair gu dlùth ri luchd-ùidh agus le buill-pàrlamaid bho air feadh an t-seòmar air na diofar atharraichean a chaidh a mholadh. A’ bharrachd air na ullachaidhean cudromach a thaobh na Gàidhlig ann am Bile nan Cànanan Albannach, tha mi cuideachd toilichte faicinn gu bheil Albais a’ faighinn an inbhe agus an aithneachadh air a bheil e airigh, ‘s e cuideachd na phàirt cudromach de dhearbh-aithne cultarail na h-Alba.”