INTRODUCTION
Highlands and Islands Enterprise has prepared a Gaelic policy for three principal reasons:
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To ensure that HIE's aims of strengthening communities, growing businesses and developing skills are disseminated through the use of Gaelic where it is reasonable to do so.
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To develop consistency in the use of Gaelic in communication relating to the organisation's remit and activities.
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To enhance the value of the area's cultural heritage.
This policy has been created in recognition of the language's integral relationship with the area covered by Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the renewed interest in the Gaelic language and culture.
POLICY AIMS
The aims of this policy are to:
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Underline HIE's commitment to the importance of Gaelic as a generator of economic activity and sustainable social development within the HIE area;
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Ensure that HIE's policy of accountability through openness extends to communications in Gaelic;
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Improve communication and mutual understanding with Gaelic speakers including learners;
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Enable HIE to support the increased use of Gaelic in news media, internet and publications; and
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Facilitate the use of Gaelic in communications relating to economic and social development in the Highlands and Islands.
APPLICATION OF THIS POLICY
This policy applies particularly to localities where a substantial number of people regularly speak Gaelic in everyday life and to the preparation of publications. This will include assessing the appropriateness of publishing corporate and local publications and information in Gaelic
RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING
When recruiting staff or board members, consideration will be given to candidates' knowledge of the Gaelic language as an additional attribute.
Staff wishing to learn, improve or maintain fluency in Gaelic will be encouraged to do so within the framework of individual personal development plans linked to the achievement of HIE Network organisational targets and periodic review of progress. In appropriate cases attendance at approved Gaelic language courses, including night classes, will be regarded as an integral part of staff training. Course fees, travelling and accommodation expenses will be paid in accordance with HIE's existing policy in relation to the payment of training expenses.
PUBLIC RELATIONS
HIE's communications and media team shall nominate a press officer with responsibility for communicating the national remit and activities through the Gaelic media and promoting HIE issues, particularly in traditionally Gaelic-speaking areas. Other duties will include assistance with translation for publications and correspondence in Gaelic, and supervising the appropriate use of the glossary of Gaelic terms being produced by the Scottish Executive.
Existing fluent Gaelic speakers in HIE will be asked to assist, where appropriate, in undertaking this function.
Gaelic speaking staff and board members will also be used to help communicate HIE's policies and promote the economic development of the area by interviews and comment through the Gaelic media. Staff working with Gaelic-speaking communities will be briefed by appropriate HIE Network staff on the correct pronunciation and spelling of local Gaelic place names and other terms.
HIE's advertising and signage in applicable areas or functions shall be bilingual, where this is considered appropriate.
SIGNAGE AND LITERATURE
HIE's Gaelic policy will be underlined by the use of Gaelic signage, stationery and literature. In appropriate areas, HIE will endeavour to use bilingual signage on building and equipment and for projects. Copies of selected HIE publications will be made available in Gaelic. In addition, when HIE receives written correspondence in Gaelic it will endeavour to respond in Gaelic.
POLICY REVIEW
As this is a new policy for HIE, it will be appropriate to review the practicalities of its implementation after the Scottish Executive's promised Gaelic Bill is published.
IOMAIRT NA GÀIDHEALTACHD - POILEASAIDH AIR GÀIDHLIG
RO-RÀDH
Dheasaich Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd is nan Eilean poileasaidh Gàidhlig son tri prìomh adhbharan:
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A dhearbhadh gu bheil amasan HIE a thaobh neartachachadh choimearsnachdan, piseach air malairt agus leasachadh sgilean gam mìneachadh tron Ghàidhlig far a bheil sin reusanta.
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Conaltradh tro Ghàidhlig a thoirt gu ìre cunbhalachd far a bheil sin a' bualadh air raointean obrach agus buaidh na buidhne.
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Cur ri luach dualchas cultarail na sgìre.
Chaidh am poileasaidh a dhealbh mar chomharradh air a' cheangal bunaiteach a tha eadar an sgìre a tha HIE a' frithealadh agus a' Ghàidhlig, agus cuideachd air ath- bheothachadh cànan is cultar nan Gàidheal.
AMASAN A' PHOILEASAIDH
'S e amasan a' phoileasaidh seo:
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Rùintean HIE a dhaingneachadh a thaobh is cho cudromach sa tha a' Ghàidhlig na meadhan air leasachaidhean seasmhach eaconamach agus sòisealta taobh staigh na sgìre;
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Dearbhadh gu bheil poileasaidh HIE a thaobh cunntachalachd agus follaiseachd ga choileanadh an Gàidhlig;
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Conaltradh agus co-thuigse a leasachadh le luchd-labhairt na Gàidhlig, nam measg luchd-ionnsachaidh;
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Cothrom a thoirt do HIE taic a chur ri feumalachdan agus cleachdadh na Gàidhlig anns na meadhanan, tron eadar-lìon agus an irisean; agus
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Innleachdan a chruthachadh son Gàiidhlig a chleachdadh an conaltradh an co-cheangal ri leasachadh eaconamach agus sòisealta air a' Ghàidhealtachd agus anns na h-Eileanan.
CUR AN GNÌOMH A' PHOILEASAIDH
Tha am poileasaidh seo gu sònraichte a' bualadh air sgìrean far a bheil àireamh susbainteachd dhen choimhearsnachd gu cunbhallach a' cleachdadh na Gàidhlig nan dòigh-beatha agus tro fhoillseachadh. Tha seo a' gabhail a-staigh measadh freagarrachd a bhith foillseachaidh gu corparra agus ionadail, agus fiosrachadh ann an Gàidhlig.
FASDADH LUCHD OBRACH AGUS TRÈANADH
Bu chòir, nuair a thathas a' fasdadh luchd obrach no buill dhen bhòrd, a bhith a' breithneachadh gu bheil e na bhuaidh a bharrachd ma tha eòlas aca air a' Ghàidhlig.
Bu chòir luchd obrach a tha airson Gàidhlig ionnsachadh, no piseach a thoirt air an cuid Ghàidhlig, no fileantachd a dhaingeachadh, a mhisneachadh gu sin a dhèanamh taobh staigh planaichean leasachaidh pearsanta, air an ceangal ri amasan structarail Lìonraidh HIE, agus measadh adhartais.
CEANGLAN POBLACH
Thèid Oifigear Mheadhanan a chomharrachadh le Roinn Conaltraidh is Meadhanan le uallach a bhith a' mìneachadh agus a' sgaoileadh dleastanas nàiseanta HIE agus an teachd-a-mach tro mheadhan Gàidhlig; cuideachd a bhith a' brosnachadh cùisean an co-cheangal ri HIE, gu sònraichte anns na sgìrean far a bheil cleachdadh na Gàidhlig san dualchas. A-measg ghnothaichean eile bidh an neach sin a' cuideachadh le eadar-theangachadh son foillseachadh agus litrichean an Gàidhlig, agus a' co-òrdnachadh cleachdaidhean thaobh Faclair na Pàrlamaid.
Thèid iarraidh air luchd obrach aig HIE a tha fileanta an Gàidhlig cuideachadh leis seo.
Cleachdar cuideachd luchd obrach agus buill dhen bhòrd aig a bheil Gàidhlig son a bhith a' mìneachadh phoileasaidhean agus a bhith a' brosnachadh leasachadh eaconamach san sgìre tro agallamhan agus sgrìobhadh anns na meadhanan Gàidhlig. Thèid fiosrachadh agus cuideachadh a thoirt do luchd-obrach a tha a' frithealadh coimearsnachdan Gàidhlig air fuaimneachadh agus litreachadh ainmean- àite is a leithid sin mar bhios iomchaidh le luchd obrach Lìonraidh HIE.
Bidh sanasachd agus soighnichean HIE ann an raointean agus innleachdan freagarrach dà-chànanach, far a bheil sin iomchaidh.
SOIGHNICHEAN AGUS FOILLSEACHADH
Thèid poileasaidh HIE a dhaingneachadh tro chleachdadh na Gàidhlig air soighnichean, air pàipear agus tro fhoillseachadh. Far a bheil e iomchaidh, cleachdaidh HIE gu dìcheallach soighnichean dà-chànanach air toglaichean, air uidheamachd agus tro phròiseactan. Thèid taghadh de na tha ga fhoillseachadh le HIE a dheisealachadh an Gàidhlig. A bharrachd air sin, nuair a thig litreachan gu HIE ann an Gàidhlig, thèid oidhirp a dhèanamh am freagairt an Gàidhlig.
MEASADH POILEASAIDH
Seach is gur e poileasaidh ùr a tha seo dha HIE, bi e iomchaidh suil eile a thoirt air ciamar a chuirear an sàs e aon uair is gum foillsich Riaghaltas na h-Alba Bile na Gàidhlig mar a thathas a' gealltain.
For further information about HIE's Gaelic strategy and policy, e-mail alasdair macleod
See also HIE news release - ENTERPRISE NETWORK UNDERLINES COMMITMENT TO GAELIC - 6 March 2001
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