Irish and Ulster Scots approaches 'don't need to be carbon copies'

Lee Reynolds has been appointed as the new Ulster Scots commissioner

Northern Ireland's first Ulster Scots commissioner has said approaches to Irish and Ulster Scots do not need to be "carbon copies" of one another.

Former Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) councillor Lee Reynolds is the commissioner for the Ulster Scots and Ulster British tradition.

Pól Deeds, the deputy chief executive of the cross-border body Foras na Gaeilge, has been appointed as the new Irish language commissioner.

They were formally appointed to their positions this week.

Mr Reynolds said both Irish and Ulster Scots, Ulster British are in "different places" in Northern Ireland.

"There's often a mistake in the way policy and attitudes have been driven, Irish wants X, therefore Ulster Scots Ulster British identity must get X," Mr Reynolds told BBC News NI's Good Morning Ulster programme.

"They have different needs, they have different asks and that is part of the things I'm going to have to communicate and help people understand," he said.

"Where the cultural revivals are, how the identities express themselves, are not exact mirror images of one another, so therefore the infrastructure and the approach taken doesn't need to be a carbon copy."

Who is the new Ulster Scots commissioner?

Mr Reynolds was an adviser to former DUP leader and first minister Arlene Foster, but quit after she was deposed in 2021.

He is also a former Belfast City councillor.

Dr Katy Radford has been appointed as director of the new Office of Identity and Cultural Expression (OICE).

They will take up their roles on 13 November, for a period of five years.

The announcement comes more than two months after BBC News NI revealed Mr Deeds and Mr Reynolds had been offered the posts.

The appointments were jointly approved by the first and deputy first ministers in Northern Ireland's power-sharing devolved government.

The posts were agreed as part of the New Decade New Approach deal in 2020, which led to the restoration of the Stormont executive after a three-year collapse.

Mr Reynolds said the new institutions and commissioners were created because "there was a problem in how the issue of culture and identity was being treated in Northern Ireland".

What do we know about the other new appointments?

Pól Deeds says he is "delighted" that the appointments have finally been made

Pól Deeds is a long time advocate for the Irish language and has worked for groups such as An Droichead in Belfast.

In his role with Foras na Gaeilge, he has been advising governments north and south as well as public and private sector bodies on promoting the language.

In a statement to Good Morning Ulster, Mr Deeds said he is "delighted that these historic appointments have finally been made".

"I look forward with the greatest hope to working with Lee, Katy and colleagues in their offices."

He will remain in his position at Foras na Gaeilge until the beginning of his new appointment.

The incoming director of the new Office of Identity and Cultural Expression, Dr Radford, says she's looking forward to working with the commissioners

Dr Radford has previously served in various roles including as part of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.

She was also vice-chair of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and a member of Stormont's Commission on Flags Identity, Culture and Tradition.

Speaking to Good Morning Ulster, Dr Radford said she is "really looking forward" to working with Mr Deeds and Mr Reynolds.

She said there is a "readiness and a hunger to move forward".

"I'm not going to see this as a controversial appointment. I'm going to see it as a positive one," Dr Radford said.

What will the new commissioners do?

The Irish language commissioner's main role is to advise and set standards for public bodies on how best to use Irish.

The commissioners will also investigate complaints when those bodies fall short of services to Irish speakers.

The Ulster Scots commissioner will also encourage and monitor how public bodies deliver services in Ulster Scots.

The role of the Office of Identity and Cultural Expression includes conducting research and educational programmes, and providing grants.

Under the legislation, the first and deputy first ministers "acting jointly may direct" the commissioners and the office in the exercise of their functions.