Langauge JC 14 June 2002
Language Sector
Farmleigh, Dublin, Friday 14th June 2002
Joint Communiqué
1. The fourth meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council in its Language Sector was held in Farmleigh, Dublin on Friday 14 June 2002. The meeting dealt with issues relating to the Language Body and its two constituent agencies, Foras na Gaeilge (The Irish Language Agency), and Tha Boord o Ulster-Scotch (The Ulster Scots Agency). The Language Body is one of the six North/South Bodies.
2. The Irish Government was represented by Mr Éamon Ó Cuív, TD, Minister at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs who chaired the meeting. The Northern Ireland Executive was represented by Mr Michael McGimpsey MLA, Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure, and Ms Bairbre de Brún, MLA, Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety.
Report from the Language Body
3. The meeting commenced with an oral progress report on the activities of the Body by Seosamh Mac Donncha CEO of Foras na Gaeilge and by George Holmes the Deputy Chief Executive of Tha Boord o Ulster-Scotch. This report covered areas such as Corporate and Business Planning, the Activity Report for 2000, the Equality Scheme, the Code of Conduct for Board Members and Administrative issues relating to staffing and accommodation.
4. The Council welcomed the progress made by the North/South Language Body, and its two Agencies, and the volume of work that has been carried out by the Agencies to date.
Business Planning
5. The Ministers received updates on the Business Plans relating to Foras na Gaeilge and Tha Boord o Ulster-Scotch. The Business Plan for Foras na Gaeilge describes the activities it intends to undertake in 2002 to address the key challenges and objectives contained in it's strategic plan, together with the resources it will employ. This included the work to be undertaken in relation to:
- State, Culture & Heritage.
- Communications & Marketing, Community & Business.
- Education Services such as the English/Irish Dictionary.
- Corporate Planning including the establishment of a Belfast office.
The Business Plan for 2002 for Tha Boord o Ulster-Scotch is aligned with its Corporate Plan 2001/2003 in relation to four strategic themes, Linguistic Development; Culture; Education; Public Understanding of Ulster-Scots Language and Culture. This Business Plan identifies resources, objectives, key deliverables, targets and impact associated with activities relating to the four themes. These activities will include projects such as:
- Tape recorded survey of native speakers.
- Production of a Text Book for written Ulster Scots.
- Compilation of a dictionary.
- A programme of cultural activities and Development of formal academic courses.
Corporate Plans 2002-2004
6. The Council considered and noted the progress reports on the Corporate Planning issues relating to Foras na Gaeilge and Tha Boord o Ulster-Scotch, and looked forward to the presentation of the finalised Corporate Plans for both agencies at the next Language Sector NSMC Meeting.
Draft Activity Reports and Draft Unaudited Accounts
7. The Council considered and approved the content of the draft Activity Reports for both agencies for the period 2 December 1999 to 31 December 2000.
The activities in respect of Foras na Gaeilge during the year included:
- Funding for in excess of 20 organisations, North & South, as well as over 80 substantive projects and 360 minor ventures at a cost of IR£5m.
- A publicity campaign which resulted in 5,000 people contacting the Agency.
- The promotion of policy recommendations in the field of Education, the Gaeltacht and the Arts.
The activities in respect of Tha Boord o Ulster-Scotch included:
- The creation of the first ever three-year strategy for the Agency.
- A partnership agreement between the Agency and the University of Ulster to set up the Institute of Ulster Scots Studies at Magee University.
The Council also noted the draft Unaudited Accounts for both Agencies and noted that further work is required before the statement of Accounts of the Language Body can be submitted for formal audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General, North and South.
Draft Equality Scheme
8. The Council considered and approved the draft Equality Scheme for the Language Body which had been subjected to a period of public consultation. The Council agreed to submit the draft Equality Scheme to the Equality Commission.
Codes of Conduct
9. The Council approved an amalgamated Code of Conduct for the Board members of the Language Body.
Date of Next Meeting
10. The Council agreed to meet again in this Sectoral format in Northern Ireland in October/November 2002.
Joint Secretariat
14 June 2002