Appointment of Irish Language Commissioner marks a ‘watershed moment’ in campaign for language rights and equality
Immediate guidance is expected from the new Irish language Commissioner on Grand Central Station, as suggested by High Court Judge. The Implementation of Commissioner’s ‘best practice standards’ will be ‘defining test for Executive Office’
Conradh na Gaeilge and An Dream Dearg have welcomed the announcement that the first ever Irish Language Commissioner is to be appointed.
Today, Tuesday 28 October 2025, it was announced that Dr Pól Deeds has been formally appointed in the new role.
The appointment of an Irish Language Commissioner is a core element of the new Identity and Language Act which was passed in Westminster in 2022. The Act is the outworkings of draft-legisation published as a fundamental part of the New Decade, New Approach Agreement which brought the Executive back together in January 2020.
The new Commissioner will be tasked with developing new ‘best practice’ Irish language standards to guide public authorities on their duties to promote the Irish language. The public authorities which come under the scope of the Commissioner are set out in Schedule 3 of the 2016 Public Services Ombudsman Act. The ‘best practice’ Irish language standards will be a series of policies setting out how the public authority will promote Irish in their services, correspondence, signage, training, marketing etc. Whilst the Commissioner will be tasked with setting the new standards, they will require agreement from the First and Deputy First Minister. In the scenario where agreement cannot be reached, or if there is no Executive in place, the 2022 Act bestows ‘step-in powers’ to the Secretary of State to take those decisions on their behalf.
The Irish Language Commissioner will also have a duty to investigate complaints made with regards to non compliance by public authorities in relation to the new language standards.
Ciarán Mac Giolla Bhéin, President, Conradh na Gaeilge said:
“The original commitment to introducing the Irish language Act was agreed almost 20 years ago as part of the St Andrew’s Agreement. Now, the appointment of the Irish Language Commissioner is a core component in the implementation of the new legislation. It is a defining watershed in our campaign towards language rights and equality. For the first time in our history, we will have a strong voice for language rights in the very heart of the state. We expect immediate guidance from the new Irish Language Commissioner on issues of urgent public interest. In particular, we welcome recent public support from Dr Deeds for dual-language signage in Grand Central Station and for Belfast City Council’s newly agreed Irish Language Policy. We note the support he has also given in the part for the promotion of Irish Queen’s University Belfast, for example, and we anticipate that he will use his office and voice to propose and endorse effective Irish language policies as many of our public authorities begin that journey in the coming time. This appointment comes at an important time as the Executive will soon seek to adopt their first Irish Language 20-year strategy.”
“We did say very clearly upon the ratification of the new Irish language act in 2022 that it was far from perfect, that it is nowhere near strong enough, nor does it fulfill the commitment in 2006 to introduce language legislation based on the rights-based approach in Wales. We said then that this journey would be a battle a day. Recent and continuous attacks on our language remind us that we must remain organised and actively promote positive, progressive policies that will make real change for our community. The adoption of the new legislation was the starting point of that new journey and the appointment of the Irish language commissioner the first significant footstep towards a new society where the Irish language is treated with dignity and equality.”
Caoimhe Nic Cú Uladh, activist with An Dream Dearg, commented:
“Today’s announcement is a result of scores of thousands of Gaels taking to the streets over the last decade, standing up for equality and demanding fundamental rights and respect. When 20,000 descended on the streets of Belfast in 2022 we knew we were writing a new chapter in our struggle for language rights. We would not be here today were it not for the pioneering actions of the Bóthar Seoighe / Shaw’s Road community, the giants of our Irish Medium Education movement or the new generation of young, organised activists who moved our campaign from the margins right to the very centre of our politics. Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.”
“We are fully aware that the new Irish Language Commissioner will be no panacea, we have no doubt that we can make transformational changes if the Commissioner is supported effectively. The ability and will from the First and Deputy First Ministers to actively support the Irish Language Commissioner will be a major indicator for the future of the Irish language in this state. This is a defining test for the Executive Office. This is a defining test for the DUP. The coming weeks will show whether the Irish language can finally be fully integrated into the fabric of our public services, and if the exclusion, opposition and marginalisation of our community has finally ended.”
Conradh na Gaeilge is the democratic forum for the Irish-speaking community. The Conradh has over 200 branches and numerous individual members registered around the world, members that work hard to promote the use of Irish in their own areas. Conradh na Gaeilge’s main aim is to promote the use of Irish as the standard language in Ireland. Conradh na Gaeilge was established by Douglas Hyde, Eoin Mac Néill, and their colleagues on the 31st of July 1893. The organisation runs Irish-language courses; advocates for the language rights of Irish-speakers; raises awareness about the language; hosts the international Irish-language festival Seachtain na Gaeilge; manages the Irish-language information hub PEIG.ie and the Irish-language bookshop An Siopa Leabhar; supports Raidió Rí-Rá; and much more. More information: www.cnag.ie
TEO Announces Appointments
Language Commissioners and Director of the Office of Identity and Cultural Expression appointed
The First Minister and deputy First Minister have announced the appointment of Dr Katy Radford as the Director of the Office of Identity and Cultural Expression (OICE), Pól Deeds as the Irish Language Commissioner, and Lee Reynolds as the Commissioner for the Ulster Scots and the Ulster British tradition.
They will take up their posts on 13 November, for a period of five years.
They 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.
They will take up their positions on 3 December, also for a five-year term.
The First Minister and deputy First Minister announced the appointments in a Written Ministerial Statement to the Assembly – www.niassembly.gov.uk/assembly-business/official-report/written-ministerial-statements/
The principal aims of the Office of identity and Cultural Expression are:
- to promote cultural pluralism and respect for diversity,
- to promote social cohesion and reconciliation between those of different national and cultural identities,
- to increase the capacity and resilience of people to address issues related to differences in national and cultural identity, and
- to support and promote the celebration of the cultural and linguistic heritage of all people living here.
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‘Céim stairiúil chun cinn’ agus an chéad Choimisinéir Gaeilge ceaptha ó thuaidh
Géarghá le treoir láidir láithreach ón Choimisinéir Gaeilge úr ar mhór-éilimh Ghaeilge atá faoi ionsaí le fada an lá. Beidh cur i bhfeidhm na dtreoracha sin mar scrúdú ollmhór ar Oifig an Chéad & an Leas-Chéad Aire ón chéad lá
Tá fáilte mhór curtha ag Conradh na Gaeilge agus An Dream Dearg roimh an fhógra go bhfuil an chéad Choimisinéir Gaeilge ceaptha ó thuaidh. Fógraíodh inniu, Dé Máirt 28 Deireadh Fómhair 2025, go bhfuil an Dr Pól Deeds ceaptha sa ról nua.
Tá ceapadh an Choimisinéara Gaeilge mar bhun-éilimint den Acht Féiniúlachta agus Teanga a ritheadh in Westminster in Nollaig 2022. Tágann an tAcht sin mar thoradh ar an chomhaontú Ré Nua Cur Chuige Nua a ghlac an Feidhmeannas ar ais le chéile in Eanáir 2020.
Beidh sé de dhualgas ar an Choimisinéir Gaeilge caighdeáin teanga ‘dea-chleachtais’ a ullmhú a threoraíonn cur chun cinn na Gaeilge in achan údarás poiblí ó thuaidh, de réir Sceideal 3 d’Acht an Ombudsman um Sheirbhísí Poiblí TÉ (2016). Mar chuid de na caighdeáin teanga seo, beidh sraith polasaithe dea-chleachtais maidir le cumarsáid, soláthar seirbhísí, comharthaíocht, comhfhreagras, oiliúint foirne agus eile.
Beidh sé faoin Choimisinéir nua na caighdeáin teanga sin a dhréachtú, ach beidh sé faoin Chéad-Aire agus faoin Leas-Chéad Aire iad a cheadú. Sa chás nach mbíonn na hAirí sin ar aon ghuth maidir leis na caighdeáin teanga, nó sa chás nach bhfuil an Feidhmeannas ann, bronann an tAcht úr cumhachtaí ar Rúnaí Stáit na Breataine na caighdeáin sin a cheadú díreach.
Mar aon leis sin, beidh dualgais ar an Choimisinéir Gaeilge aon ghearán ón phobal a fhiosrú maidir le teip aon cheann de na húdaráis phoiblí chun na caighdeáin teanga sin a chur i bhfeidhm.
Dúirt Ciarán Mac Giolla Bhéin, Uachtarán ar Chonradh na Gaeilge:
“Tá muid beagnach 20 bliain ó tugadh an bun-choimitmint Acht Gaeilge a thabhairt isteach mar chuid de Chomhaontú Chill Rimhinn. Tá ceapadh an Choimisinéara Gaeilge mar bhunchloch de chuid na reachtaíochta teanga nua atá againn agus is céim stairiúil chun cinn an méid sin. Don chéad uair beidh guth láidir don Ghaeilge neadaithe i gcroílár an státchórais. Beidh géarghá anois treoir a chur ar fáil láithreach ar roinnt de na mór-éilimh chearta teanga sin atá faoi ionsaí le fada an lá, agus fáiltíonn muid roimh an tacaíocht atá léirithe ag Pól Deeds le déanaí ar son na comharthaíochta dátheangaí ag Mórstáisiún Láir Bhéal Feirste agus polasaí nua Gaeilge Chomhairle Cathrach Bhéal Feirste, mar aon leis an tacaíocht a thug sé roimhe seo do chur chun cinn na Gaeilge in Ollscoil na Banríona, mar shampla. Is cinnte go mbeidh a ghlór ríthábhachtach san am atá romhainn agus gach údarás poiblí ó thuaidh ag amharc ar a bpolasaí Gaeilge féin a thabhairt isteach. Tagann a cheapachán ag am tábhachtach fosta agus an Feidhmeannas ar tí Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge a aontú.”
“Dúirt muid go soiléir ag an am nach bhfuil an tAcht nua seo foirfe, nach bhfuil sé ar bhealach ar bith láidir go leor, nach gcomhlíonann sé an tAcht a gealladh in 2006 de réir múnla na Breataine Bige agus go mbeidh troid le déanamh againn gach lá lenár gcearta teanga a chinntiú fríd an mhéicníocht reatha. Seasann an teachtaireacht sin inniu, go háirithe agus an Ghaeilge faoi ionsaí leanúnach le míonna anuas. Níl san Acht úr ach tús aistir. Níl i gceapadh an Choimisinéara ach an chéad choiscéim ar an aistear sin cé gur cinnte gur coiscéim shuntasach sa treo ceart é.”
Dúirt Caoimhe Nic Cú Uladh, gníomhaí teanga leis An Dream Dearg:
“Tá fógra an lae inniu mar thoradh ar na scórtha mílte Gael a thóg raic, a chuaigh chun sráide agus sheas an fód le blianta fada anuas chun cearta teanga agus comhionannas a éileamh. Nuair a tháinig 20,000 Gael chun sráide i mBéal Feirste in 2022, thuig muid go raibh muid ar tí caibidil nua i scéal na teanga a chrúthú. Murach obair cheannródaíocht na nglúnta a tháinig romhainn, fís phobal Bhóthar Seoighe, fathaigh ár nGaelscoileanna agus an ghlúin úr de ghníomhaithe óga teanga a bhrúigh an cheist seo go croílár an aonaigh anseo, is cinnte nach mbeadh muid san áit a bhfuil muid inniu. Níor ghéill an cumhacht aon rud ón bharr gan bhrú ón bhun. Is teistiméireacht an dul chun cinn seo inniu ar an fhealsúnacht sin.”
“Tuigeann muid go maith nach réiteoidh an Coimisinéir Gaeilge gach fadhb ach tá muid cinnte go bhfeicfidh muid dul chun cinn claochlaitheach má ghlacfar lena chuid moltaí. Beidh toil agus ábaltacht an Chéad agus an Leas-Chéad Aire i leith mholtaí an Choimisinéara mar tháscaire maidir le glacadh agus todhchaí na teanga sa stát ó thuaidh. Seo scrúdú ollmhór don Oifig roinnte sin. Seo scrúdú ollmhór don DUP. Beidh toradh an scrúduithe sin le sonrú go fíor-luath sa chur i bhfeidhm.”
