18 Nov 2007
Scotland Office minister David Cairns wrote in support of a new dedicated Gaelic digital television channel in 'Scotland on Sunday':
"The prospects of a dedicated Gaelic channel were in the news again this week with the BBC Trust setting out its initial conclusions on its public value test of the partnerships forged by the BBC Executive and the Gaelic Media Service. The decision making process being undertaken will no doubt run its course. However, Gaelic is a living growing language that is a story in itself. The demands and aspirations of native speakers have already been addressed by those who pace the corridors of power to a very significant extent. Its recognition and associated investment by public institutions should be a celebration of the power of communities to shape a world in its own image, not just for the past, but for now and the future. The legislation to promote and protect it has been secured and on that there is cross party support. The investment necessary to fulfil these obligations will always likely be a part of government budgets of one colour or another and largely go unnoticed in the wider debates and drive for efficiency. Support for minority language is a permanent feature of our political, cultural and economic landscape.
"Every generation faces new challenges; in the 70's, it was often said that there was only one person in every family in Gaeldom that spoke English - the television. In the future, the varied media encompassing global pop culture, baffling for many who have yet to encounter it, will dominate. I am second to none in my admiration of the scope and quality of existing Gaelic broadcasting. Its appeal to a wider audience will be the key to its success.
"The appetite appears to be growing as schools from nursery and up outwith traditional Gaelic heartlands fill to the brim with children engaging in Gaelic medium teaching. This is encouraging as for these young people, it will not be about "them and us" which has marked the cultural divide at times, but about a language that is theirs irrespective of origin and with which they choose to engage. Parents are doing this for good reason - a chance to engage with the language and culture of past generations and the chance to re-engage with the things that bring us together across Scotland. The remarkable thing is that anecdotal evidence would suggest that the parents of this new generation of central belt Gaels themselves wish to engage with the language their children are learning, and are undertaking classes in their own right. There is little point in education if it becomes a tool for isolation within families and within our communities. This will become the key and the moment of truth for the future of Gaelic and its survival beyond its traditional boundaries.
"Christopher Young's latest production "Seachd: The Inaccessible Pinnacle" is a collaboration between Gaelic writers, actors, crew, vocalists and musicians. Nominated in tonight's BAFTA Scotland awards, it tells the story of a young boy's quest for the truth about the death of his parents and his dying grandfather's incredible tales of folklore. The power of this story translates into any language. The winners of the BAFTA will be announced at a ceremony in Glasgow today, and interestingly, streamed live on the internet. Such is the challenging world that we have created where tradition and history meets the digital age. Gaelic poetry and song has long been part of our shared cultural identity even for non Gaelic speakers. The Scottish Government recently published its plan to protect and revive the language, amidst the news that the number of Gaelic speakers has fallen again from 200,000 a century ago to under 60,000 in the 2001 census. To focus on numbers is missing the point.
"Gaelic broadcasting must take its proud place in a dynamic and complex world. The review of public service broadcastig by OfCom currently underway sets out the challenge, not just for Gaelic but for all producers and culture vultures seeking to tout their wares in a global market where decreasing numbers will rely on the box in the corner for their news, entertainment and a window on the world. Arguably the ability for Gaelic speakers to engage in the new media will be important to its survival and growth. A dedicated channel is the right thing. It has always been the right thing, even more so in the multi-platform world that faces us. I have been its supporter and advocate over the last three years. This has not been a smooth path and its future is not guaranteed. I support it because it is right for us to recognise its place and value in this global market. It is a precious inheritance and to promote it and secure its future is a significant responsibility that rests with us all."