Language Body Joint Communiqué 3 November 2010
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NORTH SOUTH MINISTERIAL COUNCIL
Language Joint Communiqué 3 November 2010 (Irish Version) (pdf 38.3 kb)
NORTH SOUTH MINISTERIAL COUNCIL
NORTH SOUTH LANGUAGE BODY SECTORAL FORMAT
NSMC JOINT SECRETARIAT OFFICES, ARMAGH
3 NOVEMBER 2010
JOINT COMMUNIQUÉ
1. The eleventh North South Ministerial Council meeting in Language Body sectoral format was held in Armagh on 3 November, 2010.
2. The meeting was attended by Nelson McCausland MLA, Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure, Pat Carey TD, Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs, and Caitríona Ruane, MLA, Aire Oideachais. Minister McCausland chaired the meeting. 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).
2. The meeting was attended by Nelson McCausland MLA, Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure, Pat Carey TD, Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs, and Caitríona Ruane, MLA, Aire Oideachais. Minister McCausland chaired the meeting. 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).
PROGRESS REPORTS
3. The Council received progress reports from Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster-Scots Agency on developments to date in 2010. Ministers noted the ongoing collaboration between the Agencies including :
3. The Council received progress reports from Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster-Scots Agency on developments to date in 2010. Ministers noted the ongoing collaboration between the Agencies including :
- a Recruitment Policy for the Language Body;
- a joint Disability Action Plan and policy on Child Protection and Code of Practice;
- a contract with HR Consultants to draw up staff contracts and to review individual job descriptions;
- an Information leaflet on the Language Body; and
- the continuation of the Lecture series ‘Aspects of our Shared Heritage', including a new lecture on the history of the languages.
Ministers also noted progress by the Agencies including :
- The Ulster-Scots Agency marked the occasion of its 100th Board meeting on 18 August 2010;
- The Ulster-Scots Agency provided funding for 27 summer schools and 10 after schools clubs in 2010, which continue to be successful in engaging young people in Ulster-Scots activities;
- The Ulster-Scots Agency completed a preliminary evaluation of the new community workers scheme, which was introduced on a pilot basis in 2010;
- The Ulster-Scots Agency's Partnership funding scheme has been successful in bringing Ulster-Scots culture to wider audiences through a range of mediums including film, tourism and theatrical productions;
- Foras na Gaeilge established a new office in Gaoth Dobhair on 1 September 2010;
- Foras na Gaeilge provided funding for 65 Summer Camps in 2010;
- Foras na Gaeilge is finalising the accreditation system for Irish language editors which will be introduced by end 2010, with the first examination taking place early in 2011;
- Foras na Gaeilge completed an internal review of the ‘GLEO’ (spoken Irish in the Education Sector) scheme in advance of the 2010/11 school year.
4. Ministers thanked John Hunter, the outgoing Chairperson of the Ulster-Scots Agency for his contribution to the work of the North South Language Body.
NORTH/SOUTH LANGUAGE BODY BUSINESS PLANS AND BUDGET 2010
5. The Council approved the North South Language Body 2010 Business Plans and Budgets.
NORTH/SOUTH LANGUAGE BODY CORPORATE PLAN 2011-13 AND BUSINESS PLAN AND BUDGET 2011
6. Ministers noted progress on the development of the Ulster-Scots Agency and Foras na Gaeilge Corporate Plans for 2011-2013, including the emerging strategic objectives, priorities and efficiency proposals. Both Ministers recognise the challenges presented by the current economic climate and have agreed to work together to implement the measures agreed between both Ministers of Finance in the context of their respective budgetary processes.
NORTH SOUTH LANGUAGE BODY ANNUAL REPORTS AND ACCOUNTS
7. The Council noted that the Language Body’s 2006 Accounts were laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly and Oireachtas on 24 September 2010 and that Audit fieldwork has been completed in respect of the Annual Reports and Accounts for 2007, 2008 and 2009 and that consolidation will follow on as soon as possible.
PRESENTATIONS BY FORAS NA GAEILGE AND THE ULSTER SCOTS AGENCY
8. The Council received a presentation by Foras na Gaeilge in regard to the major new English-Irish Dictionary and a presentation by the Ulster-Scots Agency on the operation of the Community Workers Scheme which was introduced on a pilot basis in 2010.
ULSTER-SCOTS AGENCY- STAFFING
9. Ministers noted progress on the review of the staffing structure within the Ulster-Scots Agency and agreed that the designation of Ms Hazel Campbell as Interim Chief Executive would be extended until the end of March 2011.
ULSTER-SCOTS AGENCY REVIEW OF CORE FUNDED BODIES
10. The Council noted the recommendations of the review of the core-funded organisations undertaken by the Ulster-Scots Agency and asked the Agency to consider how best to implement the recommendations to ensure value for money and quality.
FORAS NA GAEILGE REVIEW OF CORE FUNDED BODIES
11. The Council noted the current position in regard to the review of the core-funded organisations undertaken by Foras na Gaeilge. Ministers noted proposals in regard to the enhanced implementation arrangements, including the appointment of a project manager and establishment of a steering committee and an advisory committee. They agreed that, in the context of satisfactory progress on implementation being achieved, interim funding may continue to be provided by Foras na Gaeilge to existing funded organisations to end May 2011 and progress will be reported at the next NSMC Language meeting.
FORAS NA GAEILGE STAFFING AND DECENTRALISATION
12. Ministers noted recent developments in recruitment, including nine appointments (five in Gaoth Dobhair and four in Dublin) and five offers of posts (four in Gaoth Dobhair and one in Dublin). The Council noted the current position in regard to the new English-Irish Dictionary Project, following approval of additional contract staff for Foras na Gaeilge with the cost to be met by reallocation of funding within approved budgets.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
13. The Council agreed to hold its next meeting in Language sectoral format in Spring 2011.
Joint Secretariat
3 November 2010
NORTH/SOUTH LANGUAGE BODY BUSINESS PLANS AND BUDGET 2010
5. The Council approved the North South Language Body 2010 Business Plans and Budgets.
NORTH/SOUTH LANGUAGE BODY CORPORATE PLAN 2011-13 AND BUSINESS PLAN AND BUDGET 2011
6. Ministers noted progress on the development of the Ulster-Scots Agency and Foras na Gaeilge Corporate Plans for 2011-2013, including the emerging strategic objectives, priorities and efficiency proposals. Both Ministers recognise the challenges presented by the current economic climate and have agreed to work together to implement the measures agreed between both Ministers of Finance in the context of their respective budgetary processes.
NORTH SOUTH LANGUAGE BODY ANNUAL REPORTS AND ACCOUNTS
7. The Council noted that the Language Body’s 2006 Accounts were laid in the Northern Ireland Assembly and Oireachtas on 24 September 2010 and that Audit fieldwork has been completed in respect of the Annual Reports and Accounts for 2007, 2008 and 2009 and that consolidation will follow on as soon as possible.
PRESENTATIONS BY FORAS NA GAEILGE AND THE ULSTER SCOTS AGENCY
8. The Council received a presentation by Foras na Gaeilge in regard to the major new English-Irish Dictionary and a presentation by the Ulster-Scots Agency on the operation of the Community Workers Scheme which was introduced on a pilot basis in 2010.
ULSTER-SCOTS AGENCY- STAFFING
9. Ministers noted progress on the review of the staffing structure within the Ulster-Scots Agency and agreed that the designation of Ms Hazel Campbell as Interim Chief Executive would be extended until the end of March 2011.
ULSTER-SCOTS AGENCY REVIEW OF CORE FUNDED BODIES
10. The Council noted the recommendations of the review of the core-funded organisations undertaken by the Ulster-Scots Agency and asked the Agency to consider how best to implement the recommendations to ensure value for money and quality.
FORAS NA GAEILGE REVIEW OF CORE FUNDED BODIES
11. The Council noted the current position in regard to the review of the core-funded organisations undertaken by Foras na Gaeilge. Ministers noted proposals in regard to the enhanced implementation arrangements, including the appointment of a project manager and establishment of a steering committee and an advisory committee. They agreed that, in the context of satisfactory progress on implementation being achieved, interim funding may continue to be provided by Foras na Gaeilge to existing funded organisations to end May 2011 and progress will be reported at the next NSMC Language meeting.
FORAS NA GAEILGE STAFFING AND DECENTRALISATION
12. Ministers noted recent developments in recruitment, including nine appointments (five in Gaoth Dobhair and four in Dublin) and five offers of posts (four in Gaoth Dobhair and one in Dublin). The Council noted the current position in regard to the new English-Irish Dictionary Project, following approval of additional contract staff for Foras na Gaeilge with the cost to be met by reallocation of funding within approved budgets.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
13. The Council agreed to hold its next meeting in Language sectoral format in Spring 2011.
Joint Secretariat
3 November 2010
