Three nations, three approaches
Wales and Scotland have language acts that many learners have heard of. Northern Ireland’s equivalent, the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022, is newer, and it took years to bring into effect. This article summarises what the legislation says about Irish and Ulster Scots and where things stand, using the text on the legislation database and a UK Government written statement of 28 January 2026. It covers Northern Ireland only.
What the Act says about Irish
The Act inserts a new Part 7B into the Northern Ireland Act 1998. Its stated purpose is to provide official recognition of the status of the Irish language in Northern Ireland by providing for an Irish Language Commissioner, providing for the development of standards of best practice on the use of Irish by public authorities, and requiring public authorities to have due regard to those standards. The text says this is in addition to other recognition of Irish, including provisions elsewhere in the Northern Ireland Act 1998, the North/South Co-operation (Implementation Bodies) Order 1999 and provision relating to Irish-medium education. It also says nothing in that Part affects the status of the English language.
The Commissioner is appointed jointly by the First Minister and deputy First Minister. The principal aim is to enhance and protect the use of Irish by public authorities in the provision of services to the public, and the Commissioner must prepare and publish standards of best practice, monitor and promote compliance, and investigate complaints. The Commissioner may also provide advice and guidance to public authorities.
Ulster Scots and the Ulster British tradition
The Act also provides for a Commissioner for the Ulster Scots and the Ulster British tradition. The UK Government statement describes that role as promoting the language, arts and literature associated with Ulster Scots and developing and promoting guidance about Ulster Scots. Section 5 inserts a duty into the Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1998, which says it is the duty of the Department to encourage and facilitate the use and understanding of Ulster Scots in the education system. Section 4 repeals the Administration of Justice (Language) Act (Ireland) 1737.
Commencement: not everything came at once
The Act received Royal Assent in December 2022, but its main provisions needed to be brought into force separately. The UK Government statement says that provisions in sections 1, 2 and 3 establishing a Director of the Office for Identity and Cultural Expression, the Irish Language Commissioner and the Commissioner for Ulster Scots were commenced in May 2023. In October 2025 the First Minister and deputy First Minister appointed Pól Deeds as Irish Language Commissioner, Lee Reynolds as Commissioner for the Ulster Scots and Ulster British Tradition, and Dr Katy Radford as Director of the Office of Identity and Cultural Expression.
On 28 January 2026 the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland said he was commencing further provisions in sections 1, 2 and 3 so that the post-holders could carry out their duties. The legislation database records that sections 4 and 5 came into force on 26 February 2025. Because commencement can continue to evolve, check the legislation database for the current position rather than relying on this summary.
What this means for learners
The Act is about public authorities and their services, standards and complaints, plus a duty on the Department of Education regarding Ulster Scots. It does not, in the provisions read here, create an entitlement for an adult to a language course. Irish-medium education is listed as existing recognition rather than something the Act created. Learners should therefore look to their local colleges, community organisations and online options for classes, as with any language, and use the criteria in our guide to choosing a course.
The distinction matters when reading headlines. Official recognition and standards for public bodies can influence services such as signage, correspondence or translation, but they are not the same as a right to be taught. For Ulster Scots, the education duty is on the Department to encourage and facilitate use and understanding, which is again a duty on a public body rather than an individual entitlement.
Where this sits in the wider UK picture
The Scottish Government notes that the UK ratified the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in 2001 in respect of Welsh in Wales, Scots and Gaelic in Scotland, and Ulster Scots and Irish in Northern Ireland. That is a useful reminder that each nation has its own framework. If you are comparing, our guides to Welsh and Scottish Gaelic cover their own acts, and they are structured differently.
The bottom line
The Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022 gives official recognition to Irish through a Commissioner and best-practice standards for public authorities, and it creates a Commissioner for Ulster Scots and the Ulster British tradition and an education duty on the Department regarding Ulster Scots. Key roles were commenced in 2023, appointments were made in October 2025 and further provisions were commenced in January 2026. None of this guarantees a place on a course, so learners should look to colleges and community providers.
Sources
- Legislation.gov.uk, “Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022, section 2: Irish language”
- Legislation.gov.uk, “Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022, section 4: Use of languages other than English in proceedings”
- Legislation.gov.uk, “Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022, section 5: Use of Ulster Scots in education”
- UK Parliament, “Written statement HCWS1282: Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act 2022 (28 January 2026)”
- Scottish Government, “Gaelic (policy page), on the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages”