Offys o tha Commissary o tha Ulstèr-Scotch and Ulstèr-Bïtisch Heirskip -Office of the Commissioner for the Ulster-Scots & the Ulster-British Tradition
About us:
The Commissioner for the Ulster-Scots & the Ulster-British Tradition was provided for in the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022 and the Office was established in November 2025.
The Act provides official recognition of Ulster-Scots by:
- The First Minister and deputy First Minister acting jointly must appoint a Commissioner for the Ulster-Scots and the Ulster-British Tradition.
The functions Commissioner are:
- The principal aim of the Commissioner in exercising functions under this Part is to enhance and develop the language, arts and literature associated with the Ulster Scots and the Ulster British Tradition in Northern Ireland.
The Commissioner must:
- promote awareness of Ulster-Scots services provided by public authorities to the public or a section of the public in Northern Ireland
- provide or publish such advice, support and guidance as the Commissioner considers appropriate to public authorities in relation to—
- developing and encouraging the relevant language, arts and literature (including in relation to facilitating the use of Ulster-Scots in the provision of services to the public or a section of the public in Northern Ireland);
- the effect and implementation of the international instruments specified in subsection (3) in relation to the relevant language, arts and literature;
- investigate complaints in accordance with Section 78T
The Commissioner works to 3 international pieces of law:
- the Council of Europe’s Charter for Regional or Minority Languages opened for signature on 5 November 1992,
- the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities opened for signature on 1 February 1995, and
- the Convention on the Rights of the Child adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 20 November 1989
including any protocols which are in force in relation to the United Kingdom, but subject to any reservations, objections or interpretative declarations by the United Kingdom for the time being in force.
The principal aim of the Commissioner for the Ulster-Scots and Ulster-British Tradition is to enhance and promote the language, arts, literature, and cultural heritage associated with the Ulster-Scots and Ulster-British Tradition. The Commissioner fulfils this role through three core functions: promotion, the provision of policy guidance, and the investigation of complaints.
The Commissioner must investigate complaints from members of the public who believe that a public authority has failed to give due regard to the published facilitation guidance. This guidance will operate on a tiered basis, with varying levels of obligation placed on public authorities depending on the nature and extent of their engagement with the Ulster-Scots and Ulster-British tradition.
Under this approach, public authorities whose functions have a closer connection to the Ulster-Scots and Ulster-British language, arts, literature, and cultural heritage will be expected to meet more demanding guidance. In contrast, public bodies with a more limited connection to these areas will be subject to less stringent guidance. The Commissioner will assess compliance with the relevant tier of guidance when considering complaints.
Commissioner for the Ulster-Scots and Ulster-British Tradition, Lee Reynolds
Lee Reynolds is Northern Ireland’s inaugural Commissioner for Ulster-Scots and Ulster-British Tradition, appointed to the role under The Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022, which was agreed in the New Decade, New Approach Agreement 2020.
Born in Coleraine, Northern Ireland, Lee graduated with a degree in Economic and Social History from Queen's University Belfast.
His career blends community engagement, public policy, strategy development and cultural advocacy; he previously worked served as Chief Executive for the Community Convention and Development Company, Policy Director for the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), Special Adviser to former First Minister of Northern Ireland, Arlene Foster and subsequently as the Co-Head of the Ireland and Northern Ireland team of the Institute of Physics.
Deeply involved in cultural preservation since the 1990s he formerly worked with the Ulster-Scots Heritage Council and co-authored the 2022 Ulster- Scots Panel of Experts report, on the development of the Ulster-Scots Language, Heritage, and Culture Strategy.