Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 April 2013
343. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will engage with the Northern Ireland Executive and the Scottish Government to develop a Gaeilge-Ulster Scots language tourism product; his views in this respect on Ulster-Scots culture in North America; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19947/13]
View answerAs I indicated in my response to Dáil question number 15 on 13 March 2013, my Department is actively engaged in language promotion with the Northern Ireland Executive and the Scottish Government, particularly through the provision of funding and support for the work of the two agencies of An Foras Teanga, the Ulster-Scots Agency and Foras na Gaeilge. As previously outlined, one of the key priorities identified by the Ulster-Scots Agency for 2013 is to develop strategic national and international engagements with Scotland and with North America in order to widen access to, and appreciation of, Ulster-Scots culture and heritage.
I understand that the Ulster-Scots Agency has recently been in contact with Scottish MPs at Westminster with some very encouraging feedback and the Agency is now working to develop a framework for east-west activities, including for example, an educational exchange with councils in Ayrshire. In addition, it is envisaged that the Agency will bring a paper on east-west relations for consideration by the North South Ministerial Council later in the year.
The Ulster-Scots Agency already undertakes some activities in regard to promotion of Ulster-Scots in North America, including attendance at large-scale events like the Stone Mountain Highland Games in Atlanta, Georgia. The Agency will sponsor a New York tour of the play, "The Boat Factory" in June 2013, in conjunction with Tourism Ireland.
I should refer the Deputy again to the work of Colmcille, a partnership programme between Foras na Gaeilge and Bòrd na Gàidhlig to promote the use of Irish and Scottish Gaelic within Ireland and Scotland and also between the two countries. Through its work programme, Colmcille seeks to foster understanding of the diverse culture of the Irish and Scottish Gaelic communities and to encourage debate on common concerns with regard to social, cultural and economic issues with a view to building self-confidence within the respective language communities. In 2011, Colmcille launched Slí Cholmcille, a major heritage and cultural tourism trail linking sites in Ireland and Scotland. Further information is available at www.ulsterscotsagency.com and at www.forasnagaeilge.ie.
