Scottish Affairs Committee

1 juillet 2026

The Committee opens its inquiry on Gaelic broadcasting, with witnesses outlining the mandate and explaining census trends, demographic decline in heartland communities, and sociolinguistic factors such as depopulation, intermarriage, stigma and policy failure since the 1970s tipping point. This block frames why Gaelic and native-speaking communities require targeted protection alongside wider cultural promotion.

Scottish Affairs Committee

00:03 - 00:22

Intervenant 14

Good morning, everyone. We're looking at the future of Gaelic broadcasting, and we're very pleased to have two witnesses along who can talk to us with some real knowledge about the significance of the language and why Gaelic broadcasting is important too. I would just ask the witnesses to introduce themselves, please.

00:22 - 00:25

Intervenant 1

I'm Dr Ingeborg Birnie.

00:25 - 00:32

Intervenant 4

Good morning, everybody. I'm Professor Conchúr Ó Giollagáin, and I'm the Gaelic Research Professor in the University of the Highlands and Islands.

00:32 - 00:52

Intervenant 14

Thank you both very much. Can I ask you why it's important that we support the development of the Gaelic language and the culture too, and also to explain a little bit of how about how central a role broadcasting plays in that support? I'll maybe start with Dr Birnie first.

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