MP APPEALS FOR EU - U TURN ON SCOTS GAELIC SNUB.

MP APPEALS FOR EU - U TURN ON SCOTS GAELIC SNUB.

GAELIC WAR OF WORDS OVER ENGLISH SPEAKING POST,

Na h-Eileanan an Iar MP Angus MacNeil has hit out at “crackpot bureaucracy” after being contacted by a constituent who had a job offer withdrawn at the last moment when European Commission officials realised she spoke Scottish Gaelic rather than Irish Gaelic - despite not needing either language for the job.

Mr MacNeil’s constituent, Anne-Margaret Stewart, was offered a traineeship as fisheries socio-economist with the European Commission Research Centre after demonstrating she could speak two languages, but was contacted just weeks before her start date when HR officials realised she was Scottish and not Irish. The job offer was withdrawn – despite the fact that the post only required communication in English.

Mr MacNeil said:

“Brussels reputation for crackpot bureaucracy is not helped by this ridiculous discrimination. Ms Stewart was well qualified for the job and passed through the interview stage without difficulty. It was only at the last minute when it was realised she spoke Scottish Gaelic instead of Irish Gaelic that the job offer was withdrawn.

“The fact is that this job only required communication in English, but despite clearly being qualified and capable the offer was withdrawn because officials didn’t know the difference between Scots and Irish Gaelic. Ms Stewart has been treated terribly and these loopy language rules should be changed.

“This job was in the field of fisheries which as an industry, is of key importance to Scotland, and in particular to communities where Gaelic is spoken which makes the decision all the more unacceptable.

“I think people in Scotland will feel badly let down by this shabby treatment, and we should expect a rather more common sense and accommodating approach from European institutions.

“Gaelic is not just part of our cultural life and heritage, it is an everyday living language and it should be recognised as such.

“The situation also underlines the success of the Irish in securing official status for their language and the failure of the UK Government to treat Gaelic with anything other than indifference. Thank goodness we have a Scottish Government that is actively promoting the language, investing in Gaelic education, and encouraging a whole new generation of speakers.

“I will be in touch with my SNP colleagues in the European Parliament and the European and Irish authorities to see if there is a way through the current impasse that would help Ms Stewart take up the post she is eminently qualified for.”

ENDS

Note:

1. Background – Anne-Margaret Stewart, from Grimsay, North Uist, was offered a traineeship with the European Commissions Joint Research Centre in Ispra, Italy. Ms Stewart was preparing to start on 1 September, when the centre’s HR department realised she spoke Scots Gaelic and not Irish Gaelic.

Her appointment was then withdrawn until she could provide certification that she was proficient in another European recognised language to level B1/B2 as outlined in the Council of Europe’s Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEF).

2. Yesterday (Tuesday) Scottish Government Minister for Gaelic announced £1.5 million investment to increase the number of places in Gaelic-medium education across Scotland from the Gaelic Schools Capital Fund. Highland Council will shortly be identifying suitable sites for the establishment of full-Gaelic schools in Portree and Fort William. This funding will allow Highland Council to accelerate progress on these projects.