A flourishing future for the Gaelic language is now a step closer, as the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act comes into force today. The legislation is designed to promote the use of Gaelic, secure the status of the language and ensure it has a long-term future. Central to the provisions of the Act is the creation of a statutory body, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, to promote and develop the Gaelic language in Scotland. The Bòrd will build on the work which is already undertaken by a wide variety of groups across the Gaelic education, arts and development sectors.The new chair, Matthew MacIver, and his team, who were appointed last month, will take up their responsibilities today.

But as this good news for Gaelic speakers comes through there is mixed news for job hunters in some areas of Scotland. The Sunday Times reports on a new distillery that will only employ Gaelic speakers at the same time as Sleat Primary school on Skye looks set to become Gaelic-only, sending some pupils on a 40-mile round trip to school. Is this, as some have accused in the articles, a “racist” or “fascist” policy, excluding large numbers of potential workers from a job? Or is this just the same as requiring an employee to speak French in France or Spanish in Spain?

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