Stormont appoints first Irish and Ulster-Scots language commissioners

Pól Deeds and Lee Reynolds have been appointed as Northern Ireland's first Irish language and Ulster-Scots commissioners respectively. The appointments were made under the New Decade New Approach agreement and confirmed by the first and deputy first ministers.

By Rachel Graham1 min read

Pól Deeds has been appointed as the first Irish language commissioner. He previously served as deputy chief executive of Foras na Gaeilge, a cross-border body responsible for the Irish language.

Lee Reynolds has been appointed as the commissioner for Ulster-Scots and Ulster British tradition. He is a former Democratic Unionist Party councillor.

The appointments were confirmed by the first and deputy first ministers in Northern Ireland's power-sharing government. They will take up their roles on 13 November for a five-year term.