The First Minster of Wales, Rt Hon Carwyn Jones AM hosted and chaired the British-Irish Council’s 3rd Indigenous Minority and Lesser Used Languages (IML) ministerial in Cardiff on 24th October 2014.

BIC Ministers  considered the place of Indigenous Minority and Lesser-Used Languages in Early Years Education,-  the subject of a BIC organised seminar in Cardiff in November 2012.  Ministers endorsed the  paper as capturing the key issues in developing and supporting early years education and childcare within IML language communities.    Ministers also agreed the important role of encouraging linguistic continuity through the use of IML languages  within childcare and early years education. 
Ministers received a presentation by Professor Rob Dunbar, Edinburgh University based on the official report of the BIC’s Seminar on Language Policy and Legislation held in Edinburgh in November 2013.  Ministers noted this report and discussed the important role that legislative, regulatory and/or policy approaches can play in support of IML languages; whether suitable initiatives may be appropriate to their jurisdiction; and how continued sharing of best practice of language legislation and/or regulation could further support IML languages across BIC jurisdictions.

Ministers also noted the continuing sharing of good practice between Member Administrations on language issues.  They  commended the bilateral and other relationships built up and facilitated through BIC membership.  These contacts are having beneficial results for smaller BIC Administrations in particular.

Finally, Ministers considered and approved proposals for the future work programme of the BIC IML languages work sector.   This will focus on issues around language learning for adults, marketing, the arts and digital media, the links between language and the wider economy and the role of the community in sustaining IML languages.