Detailed consultations will now take place with Parliamentary staff, clerks, the political parties and Gaelic agencies in order to draw up a specific job description. It is intended that the post will be advertised at the end of February 2000.

The creation of this post will allow the Parliament to deal more effectively with Gaelic issues both internally and externally. It is hoped that this post will also enable the Parliament to reach out in a more proactive and focussed manner to the Gaelic community throughout Scotland.

All signage at the Parliament is in English and Gaelic, and Gaelic is recorded in the Official Report of proceedings when used in the main Chamber of committees.

Where a speech is to be given in Gaelic, MSPs are required to give notice of their intention in order for simultaneous translation and interpretation facilities to be provided. This specialist service is provided under an existing contract with the Parliament and would not be a function of the Gaelic Officer.

The Enterprise and Lifelong Learning committee, meeting in Inverness during the October recess, took a considerable amount of evidence in Gaelic for which translation facilities were provided and which is full recorded – in Gaelic and English – in the Official Report.

For general enquiries, contact: 0845 278 1999 (local call rate)
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