Is there a conflict of interest in Bord na Gaidhlig’s £250,000 mygaelic network site?

It has come to For Argyll’s notice that the Acting CEO of Bord na Gaidhlig, Rosemary Ward – is also, with Gillian Thompson, one of the two people creating and promoting the controversial new Gaelic social networking website – mygaelic.com.

The site is to be launched at the end of this month (January 2009), possibly with a glitzy event in Glasgow’s George Square. It has been commissioned by Bord na Gaidhlig for an eye-opening fee of £250,000.

The question of potential conflict of interest has to arise. In any country with a small population and within a specific community of interest, it is often impossible to maintain a fully reassuring distance between decision takers and service providers. But this connection is an uncomfortably close one for Bord na Gaidhlig.

Note: In a recent article, For Argyll has already raised questions on philosophical and cost issues around the concept and the commissioning of mygaelic.com. Site visitors reading this article have added questions on the relationship of the programming involved to the commission fee; and drawn attention to at least one existing Gaelic social networking site created altruistically by a young highlander.