Na h-Eileanan an Iar SNP MSP Alasdair Allan was elected convenor of the Scottish Parliament’s Cross- Party Group on Gaelic last week.
The Cross-Party Group on Gaelic has input from organisations including Bòrd na Gàidhlig, An Comunn Gàidhealach, Comunn na Gàidhlig, Fèisean nan Gàidheal, MG Alba and others. Mr Allan said: ‘Tha mi fìor thoillichte gu robh buidhean thar-phàrtaidh airson na Gàidhlig ga mo thaoghadh mar neach-ghairm. S’e onair a th’ann, agus tha mi gu math taingeal son an obair a rinn Ceit Nic Fhorbhais BPA anns an dreuchd suas dhan an diugh. (‘I am delighted to be chosen as convener of the Cross Party Group on Gaelic. It is an honour and I am very grateful for the work which Kate Forbes MSP has done in this role up to now.’)
‘Tha mi a’ creidsinn gu bheil cothrom againn anns a’ Phàrlamaid a mhìneachadh gu luchd poileataigs cho cudthromach ‘s a tha a’ Ghàidhlig anns na coimhearsneachdan agus anns na sgoiltean air feagh Alba, agus cho cugallach’s a tha staid a chànain fhathast. Tha mi geur a thòiseachadh leis an obair seo.’ (‘I believe there is a real opportunity for us to explain to the Parliament the importance of Gaelic to communities and schools the length of Scotland and also how fragile the language remains. I am keen to get started on this work.’)