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Northern Ireland has recently appointed its first Irish language and Ulster-Scots commissioners. Pól Deeds, the deputy chief executive of Foras na Gaeilge, has been named as the Irish language commissioner, while former Democratic Unionist Party councillor Lee Reynolds is now the commissioner for the Ulster-Scots and Ulster British tradition. Additionally, Dr Katy Radford has been appointed as director of the new Office of Identity and Cultural Expression (OICE). These individuals will commence their roles on November 13 for a five-year term.
The appointments of these commissioners were jointly approved by Northern Ireland’s first and deputy first ministers as part of the New Decade New Approach deal in 2020. The deal aimed to restore the Stormont executive after a three-year collapse. The first and deputy first ministers have also confirmed the appointments of Brian Dougherty, Ellen Finlay, Stephen Moore, Dr Callie Persic, and Dr Jacqueline Witherow as members of the OICE board, who will commence on December 3 for a five-year term.
The announcement of the commissioner appointments has been hailed as a “watershed moment” by Irish language groups. Ciarán Mac Giolla Bhéin of Conradh na Gaeilge expressed the significance of having a strong voice for language rights within the state, despite acknowledging that the current language legislation is not adequate. Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney also praised the appointment, emphasizing its importance for the Irish-speaking community. Meanwhile, SDLP MLA Patsy McGlone highlighted the opportunity the commissioners present to promote respect and understanding among different cultural traditions.
Pól Deeds, Lee Reynolds, and Dr Katy Radford bring diverse backgrounds and experiences to their roles as language commissioners. Deeds has a long history of advocating for the Irish language, while Reynolds previously served as an advisor to former DUP leader Arlene Foster. Dr Radford has held various roles, including in the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. Although the appointment of these commissioners marks a significant step forward, questions remain about how their roles will operate in practice, especially given the ongoing disputes over Irish language policies
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