Language JC 4 July 2008

1.  The sixth North South Ministerial Council meeting in Language Body sectoral format was held in the Radisson Roe Hotel, Limavady on 4 July 2008.

2.  The Northern Ireland Executive was represented by Gregory Campbell MP MLA, Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure and Conor Murphy MP MLA, Minister for Regional Development.   The Irish Government was represented by Éamon Ó Cuív TD, Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. Minister Campbell chaired the meeting.

3.  The meeting dealt with issues relating to the Language Body and its two constituent agencies, Tha Boord o Ulstèr Scotch (The Ulster Scots Agency) and Foras na Gaeilge (The Irish Language Agency).   The Council approved the Business Plans for 2008 and Corporate Plans for 2008 - 2010. The Council agreed budgets for 2008 and noted indicative budgets for 2009 and 2010, which will be subject to further discussions between the sponsor Departments and to budgetary considerations by the NI Executive and the Irish Government.

4.  The Council also noted the proposal from the Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure to provide further additional funding of £1m to the Ulster-Scots Agency in 2009 and 2010 and that the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs is positively disposed to this proposal (subject to budgetary considerations in both jurisdictions and assurances about the necessary financial accountability systems being in place in the Agency). The Ministers  requested officials to prepare a more developed paper in this regard, to be brought before the next NSMC Meeting in Language sectoral format.

5.  The Council noted the work that has been done to date to progress the decentralization from Dublin of 30 posts of  Foras na Gaeilge to Gaoth Dobhair in accordance with the announcement made by the Irish Government in December 2003. The Council also approved, for immediate implementation seven additional posts for Foras na Gaeilge from their approved staffing complement and noted that five of these would be located in Gaoth Dobhair and two in Belfast.  It looked forward to a further progress report at its next meeting.

6.  Future arrangements for Colmcille were considered and Ministers approved the transfer of its functions, staff and funding to Foras na Gaeilge and agreed that Foras na Gaeilge and Bòrd na Gàidhlig would form a partnership to take forward the aims and objectives of Colmcille.

7.  The Council agreed that its next meeting in Language sectoral format will take place in November 2008.