- Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005
The Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act passed by the
Scottish Parliament in2005 is the first piece of legislation to give formal recognition to theScottish Gaelic language .The Gaelic Language Act aims to secure Gaelic as an
official language ofScotland , commanding "equal respect" with English, by establishingBòrd na Gàidhlig as part of the framework ofgovernment in Scotland and also requiring the creation of a national plan for Gaelic to provide strategic direction for the development of the Gaelic language.The Act also 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.Former Education Minister
Peter Peacock , who, at the time of the Act coming into force, had 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." [http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-05/sor0202-02.htm#Col14095]While the Act is most certainly considered by most as being a step in the right direction, one key weakness is that it applies only to public bodies operating in Scotland and whose business is classed as being a
devolved matter (outlined by theScotland Act 1998 [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/acts2005/asp_20050007_en_1#pb5-l1g10] ). Other public bodies (such as the Royal Mail, the DVLA and London-based governmental departments) are not bound by the act and have on the whole failed to embrace its spirit and proactively prepare Gaelic language plans.ee also
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List of Acts of the Scottish Parliament from 1999
*Language policy ources
*cite web|url=http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2005/04/21162614|title=Report on the website of the Scottish Parliament
*cite web|url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/acts2005/asp_20050007_en_1|title=Full text of the act
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