Committee News Release
CED 002/2004
29 September 2004
SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT’S EDUCATION COMMITTEE TO HOLD PUBLIC MEETING AT ROYAL NATIONAL MÒD
The Scottish Parliament will have a strong presence at this year’s Royal National Mòd in Perth. In addition to its exhibition stand and drop in service from MSPs, the Parliament’s Education Committee will hold a public meeting at the Mòd to hear the public’s views on the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Bill.
The cross-party committee of MSPs is likely to be responsible for scrutinising the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Bill which was introduced to Parliament on 27 September. The Committee is also responsible for examining the Scottish Executive’s wider policies on Gaelic.
The meeting will be held between 12.30pm and 2.30pm on Thursday 14 October, in the Theatre at the A K Bell Library, York Place, Perth.
The meeting will provide an opportunity for the public to raise issues relating to Gaelic and, in particular, the Gaelic Language Bill.
Robert Brown MSP, Convener of the Education Committee said:
“The introduction of the Gaelic Language Bill means that it is particularly appropriate that the Education Committee should be present at this year’s Mòd. This will be an important piece of legislation and we want to hear the views of Gaelic speakers and Gaelic learners alike.”
There will be 120 tickets available to the public. These will be allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. If you wish to attend, please email:
Or phone Paul Howell on 0131 348 6226.
MSPs Drop-in Sessions
In addition to the Education Committee meeting, three MSPs will each hold an open drop-in sessions at the Mòd, giving the public the opportunity to raise parliamentary or constituency matters of concern. These will all take place at the Parliament’s exhibition stand in the foyer of Perth City Hall.
The three Members attending are:
- Murdo Fraser (Conservative) Member for Mid-Scotland and Fife (Tuesday 12 October, 2-3pm).
- Roseanna Cunningham (SNP), Member for Perth. (Friday 15 October, 11am-12 midday)
- Mark Ruskell (Green), Member for Mid-Scotland and Fife. (Friday 15 October, 2-3pm)
Parliament Exhibition Stand
The Parliament’s Gaelic Officers will be on hand at the Parliament’s exhibition stand and information point in the foyer of Perth’s City Hall.
Members of the public will be able to pick up leaflets and ask questions about the workings of the Parliament. They will also be able to book tours of the new Holyrood complex or arrange outreach events where Parliamentary Officers will visit their local communities.
Children’s Event
There will be a series of children’s events on Tuesday 12 October between 10.00am and 4.00pm for school parties and other children’s groups. These sessions will include a chance to send a postcard with a question to MSPs and to learn about the workings of Parliament in a fun and interactive way.
Commenting on the Parliament’s presence at the Mòd, Presiding Officer George Reid, who is learning Gaelic said:
“It’s very important for the Scottish Parliament to be represented at the National Mòd, Scotland’s main Gaelic festival. Our presence this year in Perth underlines our ongoing commitment to outreach work in the Gaelic community.”
Background
The Royal National Mòd begins on Friday 8 October and continues until Saturday 16 October. Full details are available on the official Mòd website at www.the-mod.co.uk.
The Royal National Mòd is Scotland’s premier Gaelic festival and is held annually in October at a different location in Scotland. The Mòd is a competition-based festival which celebrates the Gaelic language and culture through solo singing, choral and instrumental music, poetry, art, story-telling and drama, attracting competitors and visitors from as far afield as Canada and Australia.
First held in Oban in 1892, the Mòd has now expanded to such an extent that it is the second biggest cultural festival in Scotland attracting in the region of 2,500 competitors and 20,000 visitors, thereby providing a major economic and cultural boost to the area in which it is held. The Mòd also attracts considerable national and international publicity giving a high profile to the host town or area.
The text of this news release is available in Gaelic.
The full text of the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Bill is available on the Parliament’s website in both Gaelic and English.
The Parliament’s media contact is:
Eric MacLeod: 0131 348 5389
email: eric.macleod@scottish.parliament.uk
For Education committee information, contact:
Martin Verity: 0131 348 5204
Email: martin.verity@scottish.parliament.uk
For information to the Gaelic media, please contact:
Alasdair MacCaluim: 0131 348 5395P
Email: alasdair.maccaluim@scottish.parliament.uk
For public information enquiries, please contact:
Sarah Gundry: 0131 348 5401
Email: sarah.gundry@scottish.parliament.uk
For general enquiries, contact: 0845 278 1999 (local
call rate)
Visit our website at: www.scottish.parliament.uk